Puya

[johnw]

Wow wee!  Take a look at these Puyas from a shot on John Grimshaw's blogspot.  Amaaaaaaaaaazing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG


The blogspot -  http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/


johnw

[fermi de Sousa]

Definitely amaaaaaaazing!
Is that John pretending to be a garden gnome under the flower spikes?
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

Fermi - Go to the blogspot page link and scroll down for a write-up on the Puya pic.

johnw

[TheOnionMan]

Doesn't look real, like it has been photo enhanced scale-wise, but then again, such is the nature of Puya.

Here are two Facebook Galleries, but I think they are open to all internet users... some of the aqua-blue Puyas are fantastic (as is the entire photo gallery on the Flora of Chile, some exquisite alpine beauties)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=375#!/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=360

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=390#!/group.php?v=photos&gid=47405455016&so=375

[ian mcenery]

Wow wee!  Take a look at these Puyas from a shot on John Grimshaw's blogspot.  Amaaaaaaaaaazing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sfvS6qSSxkA/SzsiAb3x9SI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Pv9uPiW-jB8/s1600-h/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG


The blogspot -  http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/


johnw

Wonderful plants John. I have tried to grow the smaller ones including alpestris  but they have always failed to come through the winter. Though what I would have done  when my grandchildren visit if they had survived I don't know because they are the most vicious thing on the planet  They seem to grow well in the South West of Cornwall and I have seen them at Tresco

[Carlo]

The ones I've grown never get near that size...and it's a GOOD thing...

[Brian Ellis]

I've always fancied growing P. alpestris since seeing it at East Ruston in Norfolk, but they are right by the coast and don't get the frosts.  I don't think I could find room for one of those monster -   I wonder whether Tom Hart-Dyke will have any seedlings when I go this summer....

[ashley]

This winter I have lost PP. caerulea for certain, alpestris and chilensis probably (incl. big, well-established ones), and perhaps berteroniana and venusta too
Here in southern Ireland 25 km inland our minimum temperatures were about -8^oC, just a bit lower than usual.  However I suspect that the crucial factor was the extraordinary duration of the cold period (3 weeks or so).  White 'frostbite' marks that appear on the leaves most winters spread relentlessly day by day until eventually the plants had no green left.  It's unlikely that any will manage to reshoot from the base.  Perhaps it's time that I bowed to the inevitable and gave up on puyas entirely, wonderful as they are. 

[Brian Ellis]

Don't give up Ashley, they are sooo amazing - if dangerous!

[Lesley Cox]

I've seen the occasional one here but some super specimens a few years ago at the Mt TomahBotanic Garden in Australia's Blue Mountains. They were covered with nectar-feeding sunbirds.

[TheOnionMan]

I would like to grow Puya (not hardy here) just because I really really like to say Puya 

[ashley]

I've always fancied growing P. alpestris ... I wonder whether Tom Hart-Dyke will have any seedlings when I go this summer....

Brian, I forgot to say that they're very easy, and quite fast, from seed.

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks Ashley, I hadn't realised that...perhaps I should have a go   I love the colour of the flowers on P.alpestris.  I shall look into it.