Scientific Name
Puya berteroniana Mez
Common Name(s)
Blue Puya, Turquoise Puya, Aqua Sapphire Tower
Scientific Classification
Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Pitcairnioideae
Genus: Puya
Flower
Color: Blue
Bloom Time: October to November
Description
Puya berteroniana is a perennial plant with leaves arranged in tight rosettes. The leaves are thin, bent, silvery-green, and have stiff spines on the edges. They are up to 40 inches (1 m) long and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
The aqua-blue or blue-green colored flowers are arranged like spikes and appear from October to November.
How to Grow and Care
You can get Blue Puya seed and start the plants yourself in a greenhouse. Puya plants are slowly germinating and require at least 70 °F (21 °C). Use well-drained potting soil in a seed flat. Keep the seeds moderately moist until they sprout. Once you see seedlings, move the flat to a brightly lit area with protection from midday harsh light.
Transplant the seedlings when they have formed a rosette. Plants can tolerate a crowded pot. In USDA zones 8 to 11, you can transplant rosettes to the garden, but they will have to be moved indoors in winter in other zones. Until cold temperatures appear, Blue Puya makes a great patio specimen.
Water Puya plants in the ground once per week in summer. Potted plants should be watered when the top couple of inches of soil have dried out. Water the plant only once per month in winter when the plant is dormant. Fertilize with diluted succulent food or indoor plant food in spring. Remove spent foliage from the rosettes for the best appearance.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Blue Puya.
Origin
Puya berteroniana is endemic to Chile.
Links
- Back to genus Puya
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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