Puya venusta is a herbaceous perennial shrub-like plant which belongs to the pineapple family, Bromeliaceae. P. venusta is endemic to Chile and is commonly called coastal purple puya. The plant is short, densely clustered, and the leaves are arranged in rosettes. The leaves of the plant are long, narrow, and grayish blue-green with spines along the margins. P. venusta grows up to 2-4 feet tall and naturally grows in dry hilly areas. Flower stalks are deep red with blue clusters of flowers at the tip with bright yellow anthers in the center of each. This plant is grown as an ornamental crop for its showy flowers and as a conservation attempt due to its endangerment. The plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soils. Water adequately when the soil appears dry and allow it to dry out before watering again. USDA plant hardiness zone 9a to 11a.
Puya venusta seeds require consistent moisture and humidity to germinate, but the soil should not be soaking wet. Cloning boxes, ziplock bags, and other containers that retain moisture are ideal to store sown pots. Use a well-draining sterilized soil mix with some organic matter. Seeds should be sown on top of potting mixture and lightly covered with sand or the potting mixture, just enough to cover the seeds. Germinating pots should be kept indoors, out of extreme light and heat. Ideal germination temperatures range from 65°F to 75°F. Germination typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
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All packages will be shipped with basic customs information such as; HS codes, VAT numbers, and properly labeled contents. Unfortunately, The Garden of Set is unable to provide phytosanitary certificates for orders at this time. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know local laws regarding the import of plants, seeds, and plant products into their country. It is also up to the buyer to provide any other customs forms or information required to import plants into their country. If packages get stopped by customs, The Garden of Set will not be able to provide a refund for the purchase. Most of the time packages make it to their destinations just fine, this is for the small minority of packages that get stopped without having all the proper customs information required by the country of import. Purchase at your own discretion.