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Herbaceous Perennial

Puya chilensis

Chilean puya

An evergreen, clumping, perennial, with dense rosettes of lance-shaped, stiff, leathery mid-green leaves with coarse, marginal spines pointing in to the rosette. A mature rosette produces a stout flower stem, to 1.5m high, with yellow-green, bell-shaped flowers interspersed with bird perches, before it dies (monocarpic). Flowers are followed by green fruit containing winged seeds

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Bromeliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Puya are evergreen, terrestrial, perennial herbs with leathery, typically spiny, leaves forming dense rosettes. Native to Central and South America
Name status: Correct
Plant range: C Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in terrestrial bromeliad compost in full light. Water moderately when in active growth in mid-spring to late summer and apply a low nitrogen fertiliser every 6-8 weeks. Plants will tolerate temperatures below 0°C for brief periods if acclimatised to cool winter conditions. In warm, sheltered gardens grow plants outdoors in a sunny spot in sharply draining soil and protect from winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 19-24°C as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Gravel garden
City and courtyard gardens
Sub-tropical
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Susceptible to root rots in wet soils

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