The belief that pineapples grow on trees is a misconception, likely fueled by the fruit’s tropical origins and large size. The pineapple is a terrestrial perennial herbaceous plant, meaning it has no woody stem and lives for more than two years. The fruit does not hang from a branch but forms from a flower spike in the center of a low-lying plant, growing on a stalk close to the ground.
How the Pineapple Plant Grows
The pineapple plant, Ananas comosus, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, making it a relative of the epiphytes, or “air plants.” It grows as a compact, knee-high shrub with a rosette of 30 or more thick, waxy, and often spiny leaves that can reach up to three feet in length. This dense cluster of leaves efficiently collects water and nutrients, which are channeled toward the center of the plant.
After a vegetative growth period that typically lasts between 12 and 20 months, the plant initiates a single, terminal flower stalk from its center. This stalk, or inflorescence, is actually a dense cluster of up to 200 small, individual flowers. Each flower is subtended by a bract, and these components—the flowers, bracts, and the central axis—begin to fuse together as the ovaries develop.
This fusion process results in the single, large “multiple fruit” we consume. The characteristic pattern of the pineapple’s skin reflects the spirally arranged individual flowers that have coalesced. It takes another five to six months for the fruit to fully mature and ripen after flowering begins, making the entire journey from planting to a single harvestable fruit approximately 18 to 24 months.
Where Pineapples Are Farmed
Pineapple production requires a warm, humid, tropical, or subtropical climate, as the plants are highly susceptible to frost and thrive in temperatures between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Commercially, pineapples are propagated not from seeds, which are rare in cultivated varieties, but vegetatively using planting material. This material includes the leafy crown from the top of the fruit, side shoots called “slips,” or suckers that grow from the base of the plant.
Cultivation is concentrated in tropical regions worldwide, with major global producers including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Costa Rica. Costa Rica, for instance, is a dominant exporter of fresh pineapples, supplying a significant portion of the European and U.S. markets. Commercial planting often involves laying down plastic or paper mulch to conserve moisture, control weeds, and manage soil temperature. The final harvesting process remains heavily manual, as workers must walk the fields to identify ripe fruit and cut the single pineapple from the low-lying stalk.