The pineapple plant is a terrestrial herb 2 1/2 to 5 ft (.75-1.5 m) high with a spread of 3 to 4 ft (.9-1.2 m); a very short, stout stem and a rosette of waxy, strap-like leaves, long-pointed, 20 to 72 in (50-180cm) long; usually needle tipped and generally bearing sharp, up-curved spines on the margins. The leaves may be all green or variously striped with red, yellow or ivory down the middle or near the margins
