THIS striking bloom has taken everyone by surprise at Penzance's Morrab Gardens.
Described as an "uninspiring spiky bromeliad" that sits in a small triangular bed near the bandstand, the Chilean plant has sat quietly for years without flowering.
Now it has produced a startling three-foot spike with dozens of deep blue-green waxy flowers with bright orange anthers.
Tony Mills, of The Friends of Morrab Gardens, who took these wonderful photographs, said: "It is a very unusual and rare puya alpestris. This plant has grown here for some time and this is the first time it's flowered.
"It has attracted a lot of attention from passers-by and keen gardeners."
You can see more photographs on The Friends of Morrab Gardens Facebook page.
