I’ve gotten better, actually. After slaying hundreds of dollars worth of mail-order and/or inappropriate plants, I’ve learned to curb my urges a bit.
But not this time.
I was overcome by a sale at “Annies Annuals and Perennials” – the most decadent, irresistible, West Coast, Zone 9 catalog ever.
Behold! The impossible-to-grow and majestic Puya*
Mine! Mine! Mine!
It will reside in my greenhouse over the winter.
Packing peanut left in pot for scale.
Now taking bets as to how many years ’till bloom. Side action on years/months until I kill it.
*Can one of you familiar with the genus inform me as to pronunciation? I’m pretty sure my current “rhymes with booyah” isn’t it.
Actually, I think it *does* rhyme with booyah.
Puya=booyah! At least here in the bay area, and ours take about six-eight years to bloom from seed… Dyckias seem faster.
they are also pretty easy to grow even from seed, at least in L.A. I probably have about 50 seedlings on my propagation bench that will need to be pricked out in a few months.
Thanks Tom and Hap! I will say it with authority now (POO-yaaaah!). I wonder how long 6-8 yrs “west coast” translates to Zone 6…maybe before I retire? Dear “skr” – that’s good to know. I want to burden all of my gardening friends with long-term commitment 😉
I’ve seen one of those before! It was 10 years ago, but that is how memorable it was–at the Lokrum botanical garden, just offshore from Dubrovnik, Croatia.
I think ‘Rhymes with Booyah’ would be an awesome cultivar name.
Burden me with a long term commitment. Please?
The Garden Rant linked to this article about the plant:
http://botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/2012/12/puya-berteroniana/
Apparently, it kills sheep and might even spontaneously combust! Cool.