Plant forming an often prostrate, branched stem. Leaves few in a dense, compact rosette, 60-90 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide, arching, recurved, green above, white beneath with a dense scale covering; sharp rigid tip; margins with hooked spines. Inflorescence paniculate on a scape to 1 m tall, branches sterile for half to twothirds their length, bracts rose pink. Flowers 5 cm long, metallic blue-green.

Southern Chile

One of the most sought after species in cultivation due to its smaller size and the vivid metallic blue-green flowers that attract considerable attention.

 

P. berteroniana Mez from central Chile has rosettes dense, clumping. Leaves large to 1.5 m long, 5-7 cm wide; grey on both sides with a heavy scale covering, sharp rigid tip, margins coarsely spined. Inflorescence a dense panicle on a tall erect scape, branches sterile for half to two thirds of their length. Flowers to 7.5 cm long, bright blue-green. This species is often mistaken for P. alpestris but is distinguished by its much larger size and the grey, coarse-margined leaves.

P. coerulea Lindl. from central Chile is short stemmed, forming a dense rosette. Leaves 40-60 cm long, 1-2 cm, grey-white in colour due to the heavy (non felty) scale covering, rigid, margins with reddish-brown, hooked spines. Scape erect to 2 m; inflorescence a densely, many-branched panicle. Flowers 5 cm long, dark blue, petals appendaged, twice as long as the sepals. The var. violacea (Brongn.) Smith & Looser is the most frequently encountered variety in cultivation.

P. laxa L.B. Sm. from Argentina is a small, loose rosette. Leaves 30-60 cm long, 2 cm wide, upperside with a bristly, thick, white felt covering, white scaled below, tip not spined, margins coarsely spined. Inflorescence on an upright scape to 1 m tall, loosely compound. Flowers to 3 cm long, dark violet with a green central stripe on the outside and with scattered white scales. Popular due to its small size and ease of cultivation.

P. spathacea (Griseb.) Mez from Argentina is a rosette forming a dense clump. Leaves 60-100 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, grey-green, rigid, margins with hooked spines. Scape to 1.5 m high, bright red. Inflorescence a loosely branched panicle, the reddish branches with fine white hairs. Flowers 2.5-4 cm long, blue to dark green, tubular, with pinkish-red sepals.

P. venusta Philippi from Chile has the rosettes on short stems, densely clumped. Leaves 30-40 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, heavily scaled on both surfaces, rigid, margins with stout, hooked,spreading spines. Inflorescence a branched panicle on a short scape 60-90 cm high. Flowers densely arranged forming globose clusters; sepals to 3.5 cm, dark pinkish-purple.

Created by: Rob Cross

Updated by: Rob Cross, March 2018