Puya Berteroniana

Description

One of the most astonishingly beautiful plants to grace our planet, this absolutely exquisite hardy pineapple relative produces rosettes of jagged, pineapple-shaped, silvery-green leaves, from which erupt, when the plant is large enough, stout spikes of exotic,It makes a superb rock garden plant in well drained soil, where it is remarkably hardy and even does well in a container. After flowering that spike dies, but many more basal rosettes are formed for future years. These plants were grown from high altitude seed collected on our 1994 Andean seed-collecting expedition.

Sowing Advice

Sow seeds at any time, covering them very thinly with compost or grit, keeping the seed pot in a cool, well-lit spot outdoors. Artificial heat is not needed and can prevent germination so be very patient as many species will only germinate in the spring after chilling or freezing in the moist seed pot in the winter. Grow on individual seedlings in small pots until of sufficient size to be potted on or planted out into the open ground.

Key Facts