Code:516
An excellent container or rockery plant
Family: Bromeliaceae
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Maximum Height: 90 cm
Another superb hardy pineapple relative with rosettes of jagged, grey-green leaves. Stout spikes of exotic yellow-green flowers. An excellent container or rockery plant. It is believed that the spines function to trap small animals, which then become fertilizer for the plant. Whatever the purpose, they are quite sharp, so move carefully around the plant.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
*Puyas are terrestrial Bromeliads that are easy to raise. They can grow in cactus soil or well-draining potting soil. They prefer full sun, but some afternoon shade might be needed in hotter climates. Note that it comes from a cool climate, so very hot conditions might stress it, especially if nights are warm.
*They can reach flowering size in 6 or 7 years, although the norm is more like 8 to 12. Your patience will pay off when you witness the outrageous blooms!
Habitats:
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
