Hello Joann,

No, pineapple unfortunately does not survive our winters, even in the milder areas of Maryland. You could grow it outside in a pot from spring through summer, though, in a location that is either mostly-sunny or partially-sunny. It will need to be brought inside from about mid-October or so until after frosts have finished in spring (around late April or early May). Give the plant bright light while it's indoors, either in a very sunny window or under bright grow lights. When it's time to put it outside again, gradually acclimate the plant to sun exposure by starting to grow it in a shady or mostly-shady area, slowly introducing it to more direct sun over the course of a week or two. This is because sunlight or bright grow lights inside are not as intense as outdoor light (even if they look similar to our eyes), and you don't want to "sunburn" the foliage that was accustomed to indoor light levels, since it cannot heal from such damage.

Pineapple (botanical name Ananas comosus) belongs to the bromeliad family, and some bromeliads die after reproducing (the offsets are called "pups," though sometimes called "suckers" for pineapple). Pineapple is considered short-lived, though a healthy plant should pup before dying back, and the "mother" plant will probably be mature around age 2 or 3 if it's a standard pineapple variety.

UMD does not have information about growing pineapple indoors locally, but we'll share a few other Extension pages that might have useful tips. Some include information about propagation techniques to start a plant, but since you already have a young plant, you can skip those steps.

• NC State Extension -- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
• Texas A&M -- Pineapple
• Texas A&M (second reference) -- Home Fruit Production - Pineapple; includes a note about miniature pineapples, which might be what you were given
• University of Florida Extension -- Pineapple Growing in the Florida Home Landscape (focuses on outdoor, in-ground growing, but includes a section on container growing)

Miri