Pink Puya

　　The Pink Puya has a grass-like appearance, forming a rosette of slender, arching 3-foot leaves. The plant sends out a large 3-foot flower stalk that arches outward for easy viewing. About 2 feet of the stalk is covered with flowers, each about an inch long. The petals of this variety can range in color from turquoise-green to violet, with bright orange anthers and pollen. This is an "extra pink" form of the species, from the Salta province of Argentina. The bracts start out a gorgeous flamingo-pink and slowly mature to a glowing lobster-red! Most Puyas bloom only in spring, but this form can bloom any time from spring through late fall.Full of color! The Pink Puya (Puya dyckioides) is a beautiful, rare Pineapple relative from Argentina that you probably haven't seen before. Not only do the flowers have a gorgeous color combination, but the colors deepen as the cluster matures! This exotic Bromeliad is hardy down to 20-22°F (-6°C). Despite being difficult to find, the Pink Puya is a very easy plant to grow.Puyas are terrestrial Bromeliads that are easy to raise. They grow in ordinary cactus soil, unlike the tree-dwelling Bromeliads. They enjoy sun, but will appreciate some afternoon shade in warmer areas. 
They should be able to handle temperatures in the low 90s (33°C) without a problem, but extremely hot or dry conditions might stress them. Protect young plants from frost the first couple of years. They grow well in pots and can be moved indoors over the winter.Over the years, the plant forms a large colony of offshoots up to 6 feet across. You may remove the offshoots if you wish and grow them in pots. A common complaint of Puya species are the large, sharp thorns on the leaves, however this one has tiny, barely-noticeable thorns, so it is much more "user friendly" in the garden! Be patient with the Pink Puya, as it will reach flowering size at 6-7 years old. You'll be rewarded for your patience with dazzling, large flower clusters from this choice Bromeliad.