Puya coerulea var. coeruleasilver puya. In Chile, its home, silver puya grows in low valleys away from the immediate coast in a climate similar to that of California. Extremely drought-tolerant. The plant photographed grows in a private garden in Berkeley, CA.
A terrestrial bromeliad, found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Adapted to both humid and arid conditions. The berries are edible. Lotusland, Montecito, California.