Common Name:

General Information

Puya chilensis is an evergreen perennial that can grow around 2 metres tall with large flowering stems up to 5 metres long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The young shoots are sold as a food in local markets and the plant is grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - central Chile.

Habitat

Arid hillsides in the Andes, often spreading across large areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Birds
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Puya chilensis is a subtropical plant of arid and semi-arid region where the dry season can last from 3 - 10 months. Rainfall is concentrated mainly in the winter and can range from 100 - 800mm per year. The plant is not very cold-hardy, especially in more humid climates, it can, however, tolerate infrequent short-lived frosts down to about -5°c[, ] and can be grown outdoors in the milder parts of the temperate zone[]. Plants are growing well at Probus Gardens in Cornwall, southwest England, where they survived temperatures lower than -6°c in the winter of 1995 - 6[].
Requires a hot dry position[]. Requires a lime-free soil[]. Requires a sunny, sheltered well-drained position[].
The leaves have large, viciously hooked spines[].
Is the plant monocarpic[]? A self-sterile species, it is pollinated by birds in the wild. In cultivation, cross-pollination with Puya alpestris can be effective[].

Edible Uses

Very young shoots are eaten in salads[, ].

The nectar of the flowers is fragrant and tasty[]. (The report does not specifically say that it is edible[])

Medicinal

An excellent extract for setting fractures is got from the raceme or long stalk of the inflorescence of this plant[].

The nectar of the flowers, when applied to an aching ear, is said to lessen the pain and to cure the ailment[].

Other Uses

A fibre from the leaves is used in making nets[, ]. Durable[].

A soft material obtained from the stems is used to make corks and bungs[].

A gum is obtained from the plant as a result of insect damage[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of offsets in the spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.