The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a member of the Bromeliad family, beloved for its thick-skinned tropical fruits. The pineapple is believed to have been cultivated for thousands of years in the tropical Americas, and has been traded internationally since the early 19th century. As the pineapple's popularity has grown, dozens of cultivars have popped up, each displaying its own flavor and growth characteristics. Pineapples are roughly divided into four categories: Smooth Cayenne, Queen, Abacaxi and Red Spanish. Pineapples are tropical plants that generally do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.
