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Perennials > Puya > Puya chilensis > Puya chilensis

Puya chilensis


Sheep-eating Plant, Chilean Puya




Origin:  Native to the arid hillsides of Chile.
Family
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Puya
Species
chilensis
Category
Perennials
Synonyms
Pitcairnia chilensis, Pitcairnia coarctata, Pourretia coarctata, Puya coarctata, Puya gigantea, Puya quillotana, Puya suberosa
USDA Hardiness Zone
9a - 10b
Canadian Hardiness Zone
Requires cold season protection under glass.
RHS Hardiness Zone
H5 - H1c
Temperature (°C)
(?6.7) - (+10)
Temperature (°F)
20 - 50
Height
2 m
Spread
2 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
July
General Description
An evergreen perennial growing to 2 m by 2 m .
Landscape
In potted succulent collections, in rock gardens, as a patio or potted plant.
Cultivation
Grow in sandy, loamy and clay soils and prefers well-drained soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.
Shape
Heap up into a rounded pile.
Growth
Slow
Habitat
Arid hillsides in the Andes, often spreading across large areas.
Leaf Description
Large, dense rosettes of grey-green, strap-like leaves edged with hooked spines.
Flower Description
Green or yellow flowers borne on spikes up to 2 m high. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by birds. The plant is not self-fertile.
Notable Specimens
Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Propagation
By seed or division of offsets in the spring.
Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)
Very young shoots are eaten in salads.
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