Puya is a large genus consisting of 170 species of South American terrestrial bromeliads in the Bromeliaceae family. They include the largest of all bromeliads, some species growing to about 6 meters. They are cultivated in gardens as shrubs. The leaves stand out boldly from a basal rosette and they often have hollow stems. Large blue, purple or yellow flowers are held on unbranched spikes or in dense panicles. The fruit are capsules that enclose winged seeds. These plants can grow in a wide range of soils provided they are well drained, and prefer a sunny position. As with all members of the bromeliad family, keep them away from footpaths because the leaves bear sharp spines along the margins. Prune to remove damaged foliage and propagate by division of offsets or from seed. They grow well in raised garden beds, rockeries and in large pots.

Puya coerulea var. violacea is an evergreen perennial terrestrial bromeliad that grows in Chile’s Mediterranean region at 3,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation. The narrow silvery-green spine margined foliage grows in dense tufts to 1 meter tall from which arise the tall scarlet-branched stalks of dark purple flowers with prominent yellow stamen in spring. Plant it in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.It is drought tolerant and cold hardy to -6.7°C. Makes large clumps in the garden and is also good as a durable container plant. This is a very easy plant in cultivation.