Espeletia pycnophylla aka Frailejn

Espeletia pycnophylla is a shrub that stays green year-round. It comes from Colombia and Ecuador. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. People call it frailejón. This woody plant lives for years in the tropical Andes. It grows wild in alpine and subalpine zones, high in the mountains. Records place it at 6,560–13,940 feet [2,000–4,250 metres] above sea level. These high mountain sites have a cool, wet climate.

The plant grows at a slow rate, with one upright stem. A large rosette, or ring of leaves, tops the stem. Old leaves cling to the stem after they die. They form a coat of dead leaves around it. Useful Tropical Plants lists a height of about 10 feet [3 metres]. The same account notes stems reaching 13 feet [4 metres]. These heights do not confirm a size range for garden plants. Beetles and bumblebees carry pollen between its flowers. The sources give no bloom season or details of fruit.

In its home range, the plant grows above the tree line. It grows on open páramo sites in the wind. These high slopes get strong ultraviolet light. Nights can fall below freezing at any time of year. For garden growth, the source calls for an open site. The soil needs plenty of humus and must not dry out. The plant needs a steady flow of clean water, too. These facts do not show how much garden cold it tolerates. The source gives no USDA or UK hardiness zone.

People gather wild plants for medicine, resin, and other materials. In folk medicine, people use crushed leaves for hair loss. They wrap dried leaves around joints with rheumatism. They also steep leaves in water for headaches. Leaf hairs have a folk use for ear complaints. Fresh leaves, flower stalks, and stems yield resin. People use this resin for rheumatic complaints and soap. These accounts describe folk uses, not proof that they help health.

The source reports no known hazards for this species. That does not mean all its parts are safe. It gives no evidence of food uses for this species. It gives no details of its pests or diseases, either. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2013 assessment of Least Concern. The plant has a small range, but large groups remain well conserved. Some grow in areas set aside for protection. That account reports no major threats to the plant's population.