Tibouchina urvillieana

Glory Bush, Princess Flower
Tibouchina urvillieana
Type: Perennial (here)
Exposure: Full Sun
Water: Regular to Moist

Here’s one of those tricky ones that is treated as a different type of plant depending on your zone. In its native Brazil, it’s a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 18ft (5.4m) tall. Here in zone [USDA] 8 it tends to die to the ground in the winter and grow from its roots again in the spring, like a perennial. In colder climates, it’s more an indoor / outdoor thing: outside when it’s warm, indoors when it isn’t.

As a perennial, it forms a sprawling mass of leaves that sort of resemble those of Viburnum davidii, except these are covered with an attractive fuzzy orange to bronzy-red coating of tiny hairs, which hold moisture to the leaves like a silvery web. The effect is that of green leaves with a thin red lining. The flower buds also contribute to the color palette with a pinkish-red hue. The real show comes in late summer to early fall when 3in (7.5cm), vividly royal purple flowers appear. The stamens are also purple, and sort of resemble luxuriously long curled eyelashes. Or fish hooks, I don’t know. They’re quite decorative, anyhow.

Cheers,

John