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Conservatory Greenhouse

Puya laxa

Bolivian puya

A terrestrial bromeliad producing rosettes of long, narrow, very stiff leaves with spiny margins and covered in felty, greyish hairs. Mature rosettes produce upright, branched, pink-flushed flower stems with sparse, very dark blue, bell-shaped flowers with pink flushed calyces

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Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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: Bolivia

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. See bromeliad cultivation

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Susceptible to root rots in wet soils

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