Pineapple
Ananas comosus
Start one from a store-bought top.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 4 ft tall, 3 ft wide
Harvest: June to August
From: South America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: Tropical South America. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Pineapples were domesticated in the Paraná-Paraguay basin and were being grown across the Caribbean when Columbus arrived in 1493; the Tupi name nana means excellent fruit. Hawaiʻi's plantations made it a symbol of welcome around the world.
Planting
Full sun, drained slightly acid soil, and warmth; it grows well in a large pot. Plant the leafy top of a bought pineapple, dried a day first.
Growing
Water modestly and feed lightly; the plant takes nutrients through the leaf cups. Be patient: 18 to 24 months to fruit.
Harvest and use
One fruit per plant; pick when it smells sweet at the base and the skin yellows. The plant then dies, but suckers at the base carry on.
What to watch for
Rot from overwatering, mealybugs, and cold; it stalls below about 50°F.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home