Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Puya chilensis or Chilean Puya

The genus Puya, family Bromeliaceae, comprises 23 species of bromeliads native to the Andes and Central America. Some species are: Puya chilensis, Puya x berteroniana, Puya venusta, Puya alpestris, Puya boliviensis, Puya raimondii.

Common name: Chilean Puya. This species is native to Chile.

They are very slow-growing plants that form rosettes of long, thin leaves with thorny edges. The flower spike reaches 2 meters (6.56 feet) in height and takes more than 20 years to bloom; the flowers are greenish yellow.

Chilean Puya is used in gardens with a Mediterranean climate in rockery, on borders, in groups or as isolated specimens and as indoor plants when it's very young.

Puya chilensis needs exposure to full sun or light shade. It resists not very intense frosts.

The soil must be well drained and not chalky.

Water moderately all year round, increasing irrigation in summer. Puya chilensis is a drought resistant plant.

Chilean Puya does not need pruning or fertilizers.

Puya chilensis is a resistant plant to the usual pests and diseases.

Chilean Puya is propagated from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the shrub Puya chilensis or Chilean Puya