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 raimondii, often known as the Queen of the Andes, is a remarkable and iconic species of flowering plant native to the high-altitude regions of Peru and Bolivia. It is the largest member of the Bromeliaceae family and is renowned for its impressive size, with towering flower stalks that can reach up to 10 meters in height. This unique plant thrives in the extreme conditions of the Andean mountains, where it is adapted to the cool, dry, and often harsh environment. Puya raimondii forms a rosette of thick, spiny leaves and, once it matures after several decades, produces an extraordinary flower spike with hundreds of small, tubular flowers, often white or greenish in colour. After blooming, the plant typically dies, completing its life cycle. The dramatic flowering event and its sheer scale make Puya raimondii a rare and spectacular sight, attracting botanists and plant enthusiasts from around the world. It is considered a symbol of resilience and beauty in the Andean ecosystem.