Puya chilensis - Puya???

I love its colouring.

Great to see Puya..we have some fine specimens at Kew but growing under glass.

Louise1:

They do have nice coloring.

Rbtkew:

They are very hardy...I would think you could grow
them well outside in England.

i have a Puya that has survuved for two years outside in the garden......one in my friends garden flowered a few years ago...

Sandra:

I'm not surprised...they are extremely hardy
plants native to the high-elevations of Chile,
South America. I'm sure your plants will
flower soon. : > )

my puya came from an expidition to chile that a friend of mine went on years ago. it draws blood every time i go anywhere near it. the spikes are visious.

Sandra:

Yes, they have horrible thorns on the leaves...this is
the reason why I don't have one. lol! I have enough
plants which have spines and thorns. : > )

Was going to bid on these plants, was not sure they would survive in England though, so might have a go now!!!

Dottydaisy2:

I'm not sure if this plant is a Puya now. I'll have to go back an see it when it blooms. I think it could be a Bromelia balansae - Heart of Flame which is a very tender tropical plant, compared to Puya.

mine has vicious backwards spikes....

Ok Delonix, Sandra are they worse than the agave?

Sandra:

This plant posted looks more like a pineapple...however, many of the plants in the Bromeliaceae family do. lol!

Dottydaisy2:

It could be worse than Agave depending on the species...because Agave attenuata - Fox Tail Agave has no
spines and the end of the leaf which looks like a spine is soft.

my puya has backwards spines all along the leaves....garenteed to draw blood...but i love it and have psotioned it in a safe place...

Sandra can you post a pic for me please, I expect it needs s great deal of space?

its in a pot so its growth is restricted. i hope to be out there tomorrow..

So it stays outside all winter?

yes. im amazed its has survived.....

Sandra:

I'm not surprised that it's has survived...they are native to the highlands of Chile...where it get very cold...however, is very dry also.