Pineapple Mila

Pineapple Mila (Ananas comosus 'Mila') is a compact ornamental pineapple that forms a tight rosette about 60cm high and 70cm across, then throws a purple flower head followed by a miniature fruit on a short stem. It is the whole pineapple performance at a scale that fits a pot on a balcony.

Why you'll love it

• A pineapple you can actually grow. Full sized pineapples need a garden bed and patience. This one crops in a pot on a sunny balcony.
• Two shows in one. A purple flower head opens first, then hardens into the small crowned fruit everyone recognises.
• Structure all year. Between crops the stiff arching rosette holds a sculptural shape of its own.
• Comfortable in heat and humidity. Heat, humidity and drought tolerant, which is why it suits northern gardens.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 250mm to 300mm pot is plenty for one plant. Terracotta suits it because the mix dries between waterings.

Balconies and courtyards. It takes reflected heat off walls and paving without scorching, and the compact width does not crowd a small space.

Feature planting. Grouped with cordylines and bromeliads in a warm bed it reads as tropical planting rather than novelty.

Indoors. A bright room with a few hours of sun through glass holds it, though fruiting is better outside.

Growing Pineapple Mila in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, strongest fruiting in full sun. It belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, so northern and coastal eastern Australia suit it in the ground. It is frost tender: in cool districts grow it in a pot and move it under cover before the first frost.

Soil. Free draining above all else, so a quality potting mix with extra perlite or coarse sand, or a raised sandy bed. Being a bromeliad it is shallow rooted, and a wide shallow pot beats a deep one.

Water and feed. Water when the top few centimetres have dried, and cut back in cool weather. Feed monthly through the warm months with liquid fertiliser at half the label rate.

Pruning. Nothing routine. After the fruit is taken the parent rosette slowly declines, which is normal, and offsets appear at its base. Remove the spent rosette once they are established.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes, a tube and a 200mm pot sold as a pack of six. Tubes are young rosettes and need a couple of seasons before they are big enough to flower. The 200mm plants are well advanced and the better choice for fruit sooner or a grouped planting.

Plants are delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95. Expect new leaves within four to six weeks in warm weather. One caution: the leaf margins carry sharp teeth, so site it away from paths, doorways and anywhere small children play, and wear gloves when you repot it. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse edible plants for pots and gardens
• See the full tropical plant range
• Plants that perform well in containers
• Designing a tropical garden that lasts all year

Common questions

Can you eat the fruit?

Yes, though it is small. This is an ornamental selection grown mainly for looks, so treat the fruit as the reward rather than the crop.

How long until it fruits?

Once the rosette reaches full size, roughly two years from a tube and considerably less from the 200mm size. Warmth and full sun speed it up.

Will it survive winter outside?

Only in frost free gardens. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts it needs a pot that can move to a verandah, a bright shed or indoors for the cold months.