Species

Puya chilensis

Authority

Puya chilensis Molina

Family

Bromeliaceae

Brief Description

Forms large clumps with dense rosettes; leaves grey-green, elongated, curved with hooked spines on margins . Yellow flowers on erect emergent spikes up to 2m tall

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Monocotyledonous Herbs

Distribution

Minor garden escape by seed in NZ, with some establishment by off-sets to make larger clumps.

Similar Taxa

Other Puya species. Many are smaller than P. chilensis and with pink, sea-green or blue flowers

Flower Colours

Yellow

Fruiting

Dry capsules on tall branched spikes

Propagation Technique

Seed or division

Year Naturalised

2011

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental

This page last updated on 27 Oct 2019