Hi Kathleen,
There are many Puya species native to my country, Ecuador. They are mostly mid-to high-elevation plants. Some experience subzero night temperatures all year (days though are always much hotter). I have seen some of them temporaraily buried in snow, but the snow usually melts within a few hours. Most Puyas want more moderate temps, but cool nights are the norm for most species. Moisture requirements vary greatly from one species to the next, and those requirements have no relation to the temperature requirements. I have seen some giant species growing in floating sphagnum bogs, while a species that grows wild in my yard favors dry sandy soil or rocks. Een though the species vary in their temperature and moisture requirements, they all want full sun.
Puya flowers are exquisitely colored, usually in shades of turquoise or blue, and the flowers often come out of huge thick inflorescences often covered in white or brown wool. The leaves are painfully spiny, and walking through a patch can shred your clothes and your skin. They are slow growing. Some are fire tolerant.
Hope that helps.
Lou