AN exotic flower has been in full bloom at Logan Botanic Garden this summer – but for a limited time only.
Anyone visiting there last week had the rare chance of seeing the Puya alpestris in its flowering glory.
Nicknamed the ‘sapphire tower’ for its spectacular combination of turquoise and orange flowers, it’s known for taking up to ten years to bloom and that only lasts about two weeks before it dies.
And the unique event was the first time it has bloomed outdoors in Scotland.
Horticulture experts say Logan’s prime location on the ‘Scottish Riviera’ in Stranraer means that milder winters have allowed the plant to receive the required amount of sunlight.
It was donated to Logan in 2013 by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as part of an ongoing plant exchange programme that sees both gardens sharing resources to build a positive future for plants, people and the planet.
The garden team has gone to great efforts to help the plant, part of the bromeliad family, to flourish, including assisting with its pollination by carefully hand-collecting the pollen using a small paintbrush – in the wild, this would usually be a job done by hummingbirds.
Curator Richard Baines, said: “It’s not every day you get to see an extraordinary plant such as ‘sapphire tower’ bloom outside of its regular climate, so having it here in the Garden is a true privilege for everyone at Logan.
“This unique plant is part of Logan’s larger living collection that has been curated through the Garden’s global conservation efforts and commitment to support internationally significant research and education.
