Tibouchina urvilleana

RHS Plant Profile

glory bush

RHS 2002

Other common names

lasiandra, pleroma, princess flower, purple glory tree

Synonyms

Pleroma urvilleanum hort.
Tibouchina grandiflora hort.
Pleroma semidecandrum misapplied
Pleroma grandiflora hort.
Tibouchina urvilleana
Tibouchina semidecandra misapplied

Shrubs Conservatory Greenhouse

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A lax evergreen shrub to 4m or more, with elliptic, softly hairy leaves with prominent longitudinal veins and rich violet-purple flowers 6-10cm across, with exserted, blackish stamens

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Melastomataceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: A genus of evergreen flowering subshrubs, shrubs or trees, native to Puerto Rico and tropical South America, with dark green foliage, often edged with red. Showy, dark purple flowers with long white stamens appear in late spring to early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Brazil

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light with shade from hot sun. Water freely in summer but keep just moist in winter. Can be grown outdoors in moist, fertile, well drained soil in frost-free area

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 16°C in spring or strike softwood cuttings in late spring and semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, both with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Mediterranean climate plants
Architectural
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9. Plants grown under glass may need restrictive pruning in late winter

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, mealybugs and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to oedema under glass