Puya chilensis

RHS Plant Profile

Chilean puya

Herbaceous Perennial

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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

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
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): H3
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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