Herb latin name: Puya chilensis


Synonyms: Puya coarctata


Family: Bromeliaceae (Bromeliad Family)



Edible parts of Puya chilensis:

Very young shoots are eaten in salads.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Perennial

Height:
2 m
(6 1/2 foot)

Flowering:
July

Habitat of the herb:

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

Other uses of Puya chilensis:

A fibre from the leaves is used in making nets. 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 of the herb:

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.

Cultivation of Puya chilensis:

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

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Puya chilensis:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.