Puya chilensis (Sheep eating plant) is in the Bromeliaceae family and has striking stiff leathery mid-green leaves of up to 3 feet in length with spines. The trumpet-shaped yellow or green flowers grow on a tall spike. The flower spikes are up to 2m tall. Growth is slow and spread by offsets. I was astonished to see these bluish-green flowers with bright orange stamens flowering in the George V garden the other day. I had never seen them before, but apparently they are among those types of plants that only flower every 25 years or so. This is Puya berteroniana. The flowers are loved by humming birds – such a pity we don’t have those here!
Sometimes life just takes you completely by surprise.
July Squares | Perspective
Cornwall in Colours 
Absolutely beautiful, it almost doesn’t look real. Also one of my favourite colours (whatever it’s called, teal or turquoise!)
Mine too. Couldn’t believe my eyes!
OMG – wow!! I’ve never seen anything like it!! What a spectacular plant! Btw – I LOVE that teal colour!!
There were actually two plants in flower, how cool is that! 😂
That is absolutely stunning — and my favourite colour palette. I must see if any public gardens here have them — and hope they didn’t just flower 😀
Hope you have a great weekend Jude.
The colour certainly is unusual, I almost thought that it was fake!
My goodness! I don’t think I’ve ever seen these – and what a gorgeous colour!
I had to stop and go back to see if they were real 🤭
I can see why. It’s such an unnatural hue for a flower.
It’s an unusual looking plant. Kind of reminds me a bit of a Bird of Paradise.
Wow! I thought you’d been playing when I saw the first shot! 🙂 🙂
(has Pauline been around lately? I haven’t seen her in the Reader and she usually does your photo challenge)
It certainly looks fake when you see it, not a normal colour for a flower. And no, I haven’t seen anything from PP recently, but the last few assignments have been rather challenging.
I’ll drop her a line in case anything is amiss. 😦
Well I know Jack was suffering with his shoulder, maybe he’s gone in to hospital for the op.
What an intriguing curiosity, and Google tells me that sheep and birds may indeed become trapped by the spines and die
Fortunately no sheep along here!
Very cool plant! Though I’m rather concerned at the idea of it upping roots, chasing down sheep and eating them. 😳
Apparently they can get caught up in the spiny leaves and then die. 😱
These colours are stunning!!!
Such beautiful colors!