The variegated red pineapple (Ananas bracteatus var. striatus) is a terrestrial bromeliad native to Brazil. Although the fruit is not as well developed as the commercial pineapple (A. comosus), it is edible. The striatus variety has a wide white margin running along the edges of the leaf. When grown in bright light the plant has a pink tint. Once the fruit starts to develop, the plant becomes brilliant scarlet.

The red pineapple propagates itself vegetatively with four types of growth. The plant may grow 'suckers' from between the leaves, send out 'slips' from the stalk below the fruit, grow 'ratoons' from the underground stem, and the 'crown' at the top of the fruit produces roots between the lower leaves. If the plants are not divided every few years, the red pineapple will become a colony.

Red pineapple leaves have stout spines along the edges which tend to shred the arm of a careless weeder. This fact is useful if one wishes to prevent stray animals from crossing a corner of the garden. Simply mulch well so weeding is seldom needed.