Puya trianae
Local name: Cardón
The Cardón (Puya trianae) is a spectacular bromeliad endemic to the Colombian Andes, forming massive rosettes that can reach 3-5 meters in height with silvery-green leaves and towering flower spikes up to 10 meters tall. This remarkable plant produces thousands of cream-colored flowers that provide crucial nectar resources for hummingbirds and other pollinators in high-altitude ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Alejandro Lopez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Alejandro Lopez
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Puya
Puya trianae belongs to the family Bromeliaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
The Cardón (Puya trianae) is a spectacular bromeliad endemic to the Colombian Andes, forming massive rosettes that can reach 3-5 meters in height with silvery-green leaves and towering flower spikes up to 10 meters tall. This remarkable plant produces thousands of cream-colored flowers that provide crucial nectar resources for hummingbirds and other pollinators in high-altitude ecosystems. As a keystone species in páramo environments, it creates microhabitats and serves as a foundation species for other endemic flora and fauna.
Puya trianae faces significant threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in Colombia's high-altitude ecosystems. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for this endemic bromeliad's survival. The species' restricted range and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Endemic to the high-altitude páramo and subpáramo ecosystems of the Colombian Andes, typically found between 2,800-4,200 meters elevation. Grows in open grasslands, rocky slopes, and montane scrublands with well-drained soils and high UV exposure.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Urban development and infrastructure
Climate change impacts on high-altitude ecosystems
Habitat fragmentation
Collection for ornamental purposes
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Puya trianae (Puya trianae). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/cardon