Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to very infrequently. This plant has proven to be fairly hardy, growing in one of the coldest locations in Santa Barbara (called "Frog Hollow") where it weathered temperatures near 20° F during the January 2007 freeze. It is a very attractive addition to the garden that is similar but more narrowly upright than Puya coerulea var. coerulea, looking a bit like a giant Puya laxa.

This plant was growing in the Santa Barbara garden of our good friend Jim Prine (1920-2010), a professional animal trainer and plant lover. He had received the plant from Bromeliad specialist Dutch Vandervort who told us the plant was a hybrid between Puya coerulea and Puya laxa that he believed was created by the legendary succulent plant breeder Ed (Emerald) Hummel (1903-1979). We have been building stock on this very attractive plant over the years and were finally able to release it in 2016. To our knowledge this plant has never had a cultivar name assigned to it so we felt it fitting to honor Ed Hummell, the man who reportedly created this plant as well as so many other interesting succulent hybrids. We also grow the parent plants, Puya coerulea and Puya laxa. 

The information about Puya 'Ed Hummell' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.