Many of the species are monocarpic, with the parent plant dying after one flower and seed production event.

The name Puya was derived from the Mapuche Indian word meaning "point".

The genus is commonly divided into two subgenera, Puya, containing eight species, and Puyopsis containing the remainder.

The subgenera can be distinguished by the presence of a sterile inflorescence at the branch apex in Puya, which are fertile in Puyopsis.

[3] As of January 2023[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[4] Some species of Puya in Chile, locally known as chagual, are used to make salads from the base of its young leaves or stem.