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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Bromeliaceae (Bromeliads) |
| Origin: Chile (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Purple |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [P. coerulea var. violacea, Hort.] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Puya coerulea var. coerulea (Silver Puya) - This is a large rosette forming succulent with very attractive silver-white leaves in rosettes to 2 feet across and stout spikes bearing dark purple flowers in late spring. Plant in full sun. No irrigation required in coastal garden. Has proven hardy to short duration temperatures to 18° F. This plant is a bit of a mystery. It has been circulating around in Southern California for 30 years, ocassionally labeled Puya coerulea var. violacea which, though similar, has leaves that are not nearly as white. This plant is tagged as Puya coerulea var. violacea at the Huntington Botanic Garden (HBG 20943) though there has long been discussion that this name is incorrect and Huntington desert garden curator John Trager has told us that they now consider the correct name to be Puya coerulea var. coerulea. Our plants came from the garden of noted tropical botanist Sherwin Carlquist who received this plant in the 1960's from the late Will Beitell, UCSB greenhouse manager and Santa Barbara City arborist.
The information about Puya coerulea var. coerulea displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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