Puya berteroniana -- The Turquoise Puya

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Unreal... Sublime... Other-worldly...

Just a few of the words that describe the Turquoise Puya. Each spring, this Pineapple relative sends up a massive flower stalk 6 feet tall and over a foot wide, covered with the most amazing flowers. The 2 inch blooms are emerald-turquoise, and have bright orange anthers that contrast beautifully with the petals. The turquoise color is extremely rare in the plant world, and it's even rarer to be combined with orange. The large stature and riveting coloration of the Puya gives it a presence that is truly awe-inspiring.

The Turquoise Puya (P. berteroniana) is a terrestrial Bromeliad from the mountains of Chile. It forms a rosette of silvery-green leaves about 3-4 feet tall and wide. The leaves are spiny, so move carefully around the plant. The flower stalks themselves are soft, and the flowers are silky-smooth. Birds love to sit on the outward-pointing tips and drink the nectar out of the blooms!

Unlike the tree-dwelling Bromeliads, Puya has fully-functional roots and grows in soil, much like a cactus or succulent. Eventually it will form a large stand of offshoots. You can grow Puya in a large pot if necessary and move it to a protected spot over the winter. Puya is hardy to zone 8b-11. Mature plants are said to survive temperatures down to 18-20 degrees F (-7°C) if kept relatively dry. Protect them from frost the first couple of years. Full sun is preferred, but some afternoon shade might be needed in hotter areas. It can handle frequent watering if grown in fast-draining soil. Be patient with it, as it will reach flowering size at 6-8 years old. Your patience will pay off when you witness the magical flowers of this incredible plant!

The Turquoise Puya is very rare, and if you do find it for sale, it's usually the bluer form of this species, or sometimes a different species called Puya alpestris. Alpestris is smaller and has darker, less-brilliant flowers. This is the genuine turquoise Puya.

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