Ananas comosus

Ananas comosus
Pineapple fruit attached to its plant in Costa Rica.
Scientific name	Ananas comosus
Common names	Pineapple
Genus	Ananas
Family	Bromeliaceae
Order	Poales
Fruit type	Multiple fruit (syncarp)
Growth form	Herbaceous perennial rosette
Native range	Central and South America and the Caribbean; a narrower Paraná–Paraguay wild-origin hypothesis remains unresolved.
Mature size	Compact rosette; cultivar-dependent
Years to fruit	About 18–24 months from planting to harvest in the cited Florida guidance; 18–36 months in subtropical conditions; variable

Ananas comosus is pineapple, a perennial bromeliad cultivated for its multiple fruit.

Description

Cultivated pineapple plants at Dole Pineapple Plantation, Oahu.

Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., the pineapple, is a herbaceous perennial bromeliad forming a short central stem and a rosette of stiff, sword-like leaves. Its fruit is a syncarp formed by fusion of many flowers ^[1][2].

Distribution and habitat

Pineapple originated in tropical America and is now cultivated throughout tropical and warm-subtropical regions. Its narrower wild origin remains unresolved ^[2].

Cultivation

Soil and water

Pineapple grows best in moderately fertile, sandy loam or other well-drained soil. It tolerates some sandy or calcareous ground when water and fertility are managed, but flooding and continuously wet soil increase root-rot risk. Water during prolonged dry periods because drought reduces growth and fruit production ^[2].

Sun and humidity

Full sun gives the best growth and fruit production. Shade reduces growth, delays flowering, and reduces fruit size or quality. A precise atmospheric-humidity requirement was not supported; use airflow and drainage as practical complements to a sunny site ^[2].

Seasonal changes

Growth is best around 20–30 °C. Temperatures below about 15.5 °C or above 32 °C may slow growth, and freezing near −2 °C is not tolerated. Cool conditions, drought, and short days can induce flowering, sometimes before the plant has reached maximum size ^[2].

Propagation

Commercial and home propagation are primarily vegetative: crowns, slips, hapas, suckers, ratoons, and pieces of the central stem. Larger planting pieces generally fruit sooner. UF/IFAS recommends allowing detached crowns or slips to air-dry in shade for one to two days before planting ^[2].

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Plants are generally ready to flower after producing about 70–80 leaves; flowering lasts about 20–40 days after induction. Harvest commonly takes 18–24 months from planting in Florida guidance and 18–36 months under subtropical conditions. Pick when the peel begins changing toward yellow-green or at mature green stage for room-temperature ripening ^[2][3].

Fruit and uses

The sweet, juicy yellow-to-golden flesh is eaten fresh and used for juice, drying, candy, cooked dishes, and desserts. Cultivars differ in spine character, flesh color, acidity, size, flavor, and harvest timing. UF/IFAS lists ‘MD-2’, ‘Tropical Gold’, ‘Smooth Cayenne’, ‘Red Spanish’, ‘Singapore Spanish’, ‘Sugarloaf’, and ‘Queen’ as cultivar examples ^[2].

Photos

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF species match, accepted name, family and order.

• ↑ [2] UF/IFAS, Pineapple Growing in the Florida Home Landscape.

• ↑ [3] FAO postharvest reference.

Image credits

• Wikifruit-Ananas-comosus-01.jpg — Markus Leupold-Löwenthal; GFDL and CC BY-SA 3.0. Commons file page.
• Wikifruit-Ananas-comosus-02.jpg — Diego Delso (Poco a poco); CC BY-SA 3.0. Commons file page.
• Wikifruit-Ananas-comosus-03.jpg — H. Zell; GFDL and CC BY-SA 3.0. Commons file page.

Research note: The species page intentionally keeps cultivar and forcing practices separate from species facts. UF/IFAS cautions against calcium carbide for flower induction because impurities can contaminate soil, media, and water.