You can grow an entirely new pineapple plant from just the leafy crown at the top of the fruit.

Pineapples, scientifically known as Ananas comosus, belong to the Bromeliad family and possess a remarkable ability for vegetative reproduction. The leafy crown atop the fruit contains a high concentration of undifferentiated meristematic cells—similar to stem cells in animals—that enable the plant to regenerate new organs, including roots, from existing tissue.This process is a form of asexual reproduction, producing a genetic clone of the parent plant. To successfully propagate a new pineapple, the crown must be twisted or cut from the fruit and allowed to dry for several days. This curing period prevents rot by allowing a protective callus to form at the cut end before the crown is planted in soil or water.Commercial pineapple farming has relied on this method for centuries. In the 18th century, European botanists cultivated pineapples from crowns imported from the Caribbean using heated glasshouses. While seed-grown pineapples can take years to produce fruit, crown-propagated plants typically mature and fruit within 18 to 24 months.Research from institutions like the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture demonstrates that soil temperature and drainage are critical factors for successful regeneration. The crown thrives in warm conditions, ideally between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, to trigger root formation. Once established, the plant employs CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis, an efficient pathway that conserves water while the plant develops its new fruit.