Great excitement as 2 of our Puya Chilensis plants which we have grown from seed brought back from Tresco on the Isles of Scilly about 9 years ago are showing signs of flowering for the first time. One is planted in the centre flowerbed of Peace and Plenty garden, the other in the bed opposite the entrance gates to Boscrowan.
The flowerheads reach a height of 2-3m and grow rapidly from the bud stage to then pushing out antennae like branches upon which iridescent green flowers form, bursting with nectar, upon which ants and bees feed continuously. Sadly the ants will probably have the somewhat untimely end of being consumed by the Greater Spotted Woodpecker – could this be a winning photo in the Boscrowan category of our annual photography competition I wonder?
