Puya chilensis
Family
Bromeliaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Conservation status
Not applicable
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
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