Puya venusta

Puya venusta is a beautiful plant for the cactus garden or for the silver and gray garden. The prickly arching leaves of this Bromeliad are a show of their own. For the first several years the clump will gradually enlarge until it is about 2 - 4 feet tall and wide. Usually by this time several pups have started. In the Spring Puya venusta produces this stalk of purple flowers, often at more than 6 feet tall. The deep indigo flowers slowly fade to violet. Puya venusta grows quite large and is a bit lethal for a next to the pathway planting. Transplanting without destroying a mature specimen involves significant protection or loss of blood. Puya venusta can grow 4 feet tall plus blooms and 10 or more feet wide. Choose a site adequate for this beauty, it is worth it. Puya venusta is a great plant for attracting hummingbirds, the hummingbirds were chasing each other every which way as long as the plants were blooming. Puya venusta is hardy into the low 20°s F. They can readily be propagated from seed. Though it takes a long time to produce a plant substantial enough to be put out into the garden.

Puya Venusta, Allens Hummingbird — **Puya venusta** getting the undivided attention of an Allen's Hummingbird. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

Drought tolerant terrestrial Bromeliads featured on this site:
Deuterocohnia brevifolia
Dyckia fosteriana
Puya alpestris
Puya venusta