Blackbell Pineapple

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 60 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous sturdy, angular stems covered in ridged, brown bark, and the wood inside is light brown.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of giant, circular, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are black on the edges and cream at the center, robust and clammy.

It produces copious amounts of small, purple flowers with broad, flat petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a powerful scent that smells like pineapple. In late summer it forms giantbeige, shelled seeds.