Pineapple.
Ananas comosus, Bromeliad Family ( Bromeliaceae ), .

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The pineapple or Ananas comosus is a plant in the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), native to South America and Central America.

It originated in Mesoamerica and was brought to the Caribbean Islands by the Carib natives. The oldest ancient artifact with the representation of the fruit seems to be included in what is called the Cascajal Block ( from the early first millennium BCE ), attributed to the Olmec civilization.

The pineapple is a herbaceous perennial, which grows to 1.0 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 ft) tall, although sometimes it can be taller.

In appearance, the plant itself has a short, stocky stem with tough, waxy leaves.

When creating its fruit, it usually produces up to 200 flowers, although some large-fruited cultivars can exceed this. Once it flowers, the individual fruits of the flowers join together to create what is commonly referred to as a pineapple.

After the first fruit is produced, side shoots (called 'suckers' by commercial growers) are produced in the leaf axils of the main stem. These may be removed for propagation, or left to produce additional fruits on the original plant.

Commercially, suckers that appear around the base are cultivated.

It has 30 or more long, narrow, fleshy, trough-shaped leaves with sharp spines along the margins that are 30 to 100 centimeters (1.0 to 3.3 ft) long, surrounding a thick stem.

In the first year of growth, the axis lengthens and thickens, bearing numerous leaves in close spirals.

After 12 to 20 months, the stem grows into a spike-like inflorescence up to 15 cm (6 in) long with over 100 spirally arranged, trimerous flowers, each subtended by a bract. Flower colors vary, depending on variety, from lavender, through light purple to red.

The ovaries develop into berries, which coalesce into a large, compact, multiple accessory fruit. The fruit of a pineapple is arranged in two interlocking helices, eight in one direction, thirteen in the other, each being a Fibonacci number

A few gardeners in Arizona have success with this plant. We have had success since we treat it as a house plant most of the year. We place it in outdoor shade during the summer.

To grow your own:

Use a high quality potting soil.

Select a pineapple fruit from the store. Make sure it has a nice green top with no mold.

Then, make sure you remove all the fruit flesh. You should also remove all the small bottom leaves. Just pull them off. The same goes for suckers. If there are very small or dead leaves at the bottom pull them off. Look carefully where you pull the dead leaves off. You may see some roots already forming.

Then make a small hole in the potting soil that is in a pot, and stick your pineapple top into the hole. Push the potting soil back in the hole, and firm it around the base; so the pineapple sits straight and doesn't fall over. If the soil is dry give it some water.

Then set it inside, in a warm area that gets some diffused light. Keep the soil moist but not soaking wet.

And it'll grow. You can move it into more direct light as it gets older. During the summer, we keep ours outside, on a patio, with shade.

Quick Notes:

Height: Height up to 3 feet with less spread.

Flowers: On an inflorescence up to 15 cm (6 in) long with over 100 spirally arranged, trimerous flowers, each subtended by a bract. Flower colors vary, depending on variety, from lavender, through light purple to red.

Flowering Time: Year Round.

Leaves: Green, long, narrow, fleshy, trough-shaped leaves with sharp spines along the margins that are 30 to 100 centimeters (1.0 to 3.3 ft) long, surrounding a thick stem.

Fruit: While it looks like one large fruit; it is up made of edible multiple fruits consisting of coalesced berries, called pineapples.

Found: Mesoamerica. Now found growing in most tropical regions of the world.

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Grows Best In Zone 11.

Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Partial Shade In Summer

Elevation: Can be found from 0 - 2,625 Feet. Usually at low elevations.

Habitat: Found rarely in some Maricopa, Pima, & Yuma County gardens. Provide good draining soil. Do not use heavy soils, with clay.

Miscellaneous: Said to be hardy in Zone 9a (20 �F).