Missed Puya alpestris Bloom, Crushed

[freakypalmguy]

Out clearing the overgrowth of weeds and brush around my plants and found this, I had been monitoring my bigger plant thinking it would flower first, but had no idea that this small of a plant might put out a flower, I missed the entire thing, what a disappointment. That’s what I get for letting the weeds get out of hand.

[Tracy]

On 8/19/2020 at 5:55 PM, freakypalmguy said:

Out clearing the overgrowth of weeds and brush around my plants and found this, I had been monitoring my bigger plant thinking it would flower first, but had no idea that this small of a plant might put out a flower, I missed the entire thing, what a disappointment. That’s what I get for letting the weeds get out of hand.

Major bummer.  My P alpestris last flowered in 2014.  Neighbors still ask about it when they see my Puya miribilis pushing up new inflorescence every year.  I have to say, no wrong species, just a few yellow flowers, not the spectacular display of alpestris.  Hope you don't end up waiting too long for a new display from your other larger planting.

[freakypalmguy]

Thank you, It was something I had been so looking forward to, next time. 

[Tracy]

8 hours ago, freakypalmguy said:

Thank you, It was something I had been so looking forward to, next time. 

Don't forget to post photos as well!  A decade later and I'm still waiting for my No ID Puya to flower... In another recent Puya thread I was advised it looks like Puya berteroniana.  Mine is right up front in the garden so when it does finally push out some inflorescence I will have a tough time missing it.

[Tracy]

On 8/19/2020 at 5:55 PM, freakypalmguy said:

Out clearing the overgrowth of weeds and brush around my plants and found this, I had been monitoring my bigger plant thinking it would flower first, but had no idea that this small of a plant might put out a flower, I missed the entire thing, what a disappointment. That’s what I get for letting the weeds get out of hand.

Since you haven't posted any flower shots, I assume you have not had a new spike on either this smaller clump or your bigger one.  Quail Botanical Garden, now San Diego Botanical Garden was sharing with members that they had one in bloom, so my wife and I headed over yesterday to see that and their annual orchid exhibit (local orchid societies bring in plants for the month long displays).  Their clump has 3 flower spikes, one had completely finished blooming now, one is in full flower and the third had yet to open buds.  It wasn't as tall a spike as I had on mine back in 2014, but still beautiful flowers.  I was there mid-day so direct overhead sun which isn't the best lighting to get detail of the flowers, but here is a teaser.  You should head down, but you do need to pre-book reservations to visit the gardens.  They were selling a few tickets yesterday to those without reservations, but only had limited slots open.  Probably not a problem to buy tickets on the spot weekdays with only weekend traffic being heavier.

[freakypalmguy]

On 5/8/2022 at 6:21 AM, Tracy said:

Since you haven't posted any flower shots, I assume you have not had a new spike on either this smaller clump or your bigger one.  Quail Botanical Garden, now San Diego Botanical Garden was sharing with members that they had one in bloom, so my wife and I headed over yesterday to see that and their annual orchid exhibit (local orchid societies bring in plants for the month long displays).  Their clump has 3 flower spikes, one had completely finished blooming now, one is in full flower and the third had yet to open buds.  It wasn't as tall a spike as I had on mine back in 2014, but still beautiful flowers.  I was there mid-day so direct overhead sun which isn't the best lighting to get detail of the flowers, but here is a teaser.  You should head down, but you do need to pre-book reservations to visit the gardens.  They were selling a few tickets yesterday to those without reservations, but only had limited slots open.  Probably not a problem to buy tickets on the spot weekdays with only weekend traffic being heavier.

Beauties, thank you Tracy, the Quail is where I got hooked on these, didn’t know anything about them but was walking around and spotted one in full bloom. My search began…..

I have three in the ground, and none of them have showed any signs of flowering since that one missed bloom, sadly. 

[Tracy]

16 hours ago, freakypalmguy said:

I have three in the ground, and none of them have showed any signs of flowering since that one missed bloom, sadly. 

I know the patience game all too well.  I planted this as a single one gallon acquired as Puya alpestris, but it is in fact one of the other larger species from the Puya family.  In the ground for 12 years now and once again this spring, no blossoms.

[freakypalmguy]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

I know the patience game all too well.  I planted this as a single one gallon acquired as Puya alpestris, but it is in fact one of the other larger species from the Puya family.  In the ground for 12 years now and once again this spring, no blossoms.

Here’s one I purchased as alpestris about the same time as yours, they appear to be similar. Also my two others that are definitely different, one is chilensis, and I thought one was berteroniana, but the tags have long since disappeared and I don’t remember for sure.

Edited May 18, 2022 by freakypalmguy

[Tracy]

10 minutes ago, freakypalmguy said:

Here’s one I purchased as alpestris about the same time as yours, they appear to be similar. Also my two others that are definitely different, one is chilensis, and I thought one was berteroniana, but the tags have long since disappeared and I don’t remember for sure.

The top and middle one look more like the one I posted, while the last photo resembles my more shade grown alpestris.  I had a couple of Puya venusta in my Carlsbad garden, but think they have all come out over the years since I moved out.  Our gardener to maintain the garden wasn't a big fan of weeding around them so it became a battle of attrition with the P alpestris and venusta.  I might still have a couple hiding in the upper planter.  I'm not very hopeful for my P alpestris blooming here in Leucadia as the remaining ones are in pots, so constrained in space.  Only the unnamed pictured above and some smaller P mirabilis remain in ground here.  Yours look healthy.  I sure wish I could figure out what they need to bloom for us!

[freakypalmguy]

On 5/18/2022 at 1:29 PM, Tracy said:

The top and middle one look more like the one I posted, while the last photo resembles my more shade grown alpestris.  I had a couple of Puya venusta in my Carlsbad garden, but think they have all come out over the years since I moved out.  Our gardener to maintain the garden wasn't a big fan of weeding around them so it became a battle of attrition with the P alpestris and venusta.  I might still have a couple hiding in the upper planter.  I'm not very hopeful for my P alpestris blooming here in Leucadia as the remaining ones are in pots, so constrained in space.  Only the unnamed pictured above and some smaller P mirabilis remain in ground here.  Yours look healthy.  I sure wish I could figure out what they need to bloom for us!

I agree, I feel like both of our larger plants should be blooming?? Not sure what it takes. The one you mentioned as shade grown definitely gets more shade, probably only half day sun, and that is the plant that flowered. I still can’t believe I missed it. Still Crushed. 

At first glance, Puya aren’t the most attractive plants until they flower, so I can see why someone might remove them. I worry if I ever move, very few would be able to appreciate the plants here and many would probably get bulldozed. 
 

Matt

[Tracy]

On 5/23/2022 at 3:54 PM, freakypalmguy said:

The one you mentioned as shade grown definitely gets more shade, probably only half day sun, and that is the plant that flowered. I still can’t believe I missed it. Still Crushed. 

Matt have you tried growing Puya mirabilis?  I thought of you when I noticed that these were blooming again.  Not nearly as dramatic as some of the other Puya, but they are very dependable bloomers once a year without fail.  They are much smaller plants than some in the genus which can also be a positive, but they will give you a dependable Puya fix as you wait for the other species to bloom.

[freakypalmguy]

On 7/25/2022 at 8:14 AM, Tracy said:

Matt have you tried growing Puya mirabilis?  I thought of you when I noticed that these were blooming again.  Not nearly as dramatic as some of the other Puya, but they are very dependable bloomers once a year without fail.  They are much smaller plants than some in the genus which can also be a positive, but they will give you a dependable Puya fix as you wait for the other species to bloom.

I have not but I’m going to look them up and pick up a few for sure. Any good local sources?

[Tracy]

I picked them up years ago at either Anderson's La Costa or Walter Andersen's off Midway and PCH in San Diego.  If you are in the area ever I would be happy to extract a pup and share it also.

[freakypalmguy]

15 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I picked them up years ago at either Anderson's La Costa or Walter Andersen's off Midway and PCH in San Diego.  If you are in the area ever I would be happy to extract a pup and share it also.

Thank you, I’ll definitely hit you up when I’m in the area next time, love to take a tour someday

[freakypalmguy]

@Tracy Doing my yearly weeding, and look what I found

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, freakypalmguy said:

@Tracy Doing my yearly weeding, and look what I found

Sweet, such a spectacular event when the flowers open.  Can't wait to see the colors again!  Please share updates. 

[freakypalmguy]

On 5/23/2023 at 7:25 PM, Tracy said:

Sweet, such a spectacular event when the flowers open.  Can't wait to see the colors again!  Please share updates. 

Will do👍