The rare Eucomis vandermerwei is native only to the small, high rainfall region in the Northern Drakensberg Mountains (Steenkampsberg range) just east of Pretoria, South Africa. In the wild, Eucomis vandermerwei are found in well-drained rocky crevices, free from winter moisture. In the garden, the dwarf Eucomis vandermerwei makes a wonderful 6″ tall x 1′ wide rock garden plant. Eucomis ‘Octopus’ is a vigorous selection with narrow, ground-hugging green leaves, heavily specked with dark purple. The dark purple, mini pineapple-looking flowers top the foliage starting in July…just darling. If kept dry when dormant, these should prove to be quite winter-hardy, although they don’t re-emerge before June in NC.
