Tibouchina grandifolia (email for availability)

Description

FAMILY : Melastomaceae
ORIGIN : Tropical America
SIZE : 6′-7′ shrub
GROWTH RATE : average
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS : partial sun
WATER REQUIREMENTS : average
MIN. TEMP. : low 30’s
FLOWER : fall and winter

A large shrub with rounded large fuzzy grayish green leaves that without flowers is still a very unique and beautiful plant. When purple spikes of flowers with a fuchsia throat emerges, the whole plant becomes a spectacular showpiece.

Tibouchina grandifolia is by far one of our best sellers.
Even without any flowers the plant is a show stopper with its large, velvety round leaves.
When the flowers appear, the plant becomes one of the most beautiful shrubs in the world.

Tibouchina is not a plant for everyone. It can decline and die when its requirements are badly neglected. Fortunately, it is easy to grow when a few steps are taken.
The plant will grow anywhere from filtered light to full sun. Partial sun being the best location.
Tibouchinas are acid loving plants and don’t like too much water around their roots. Choose a soil with a good amount of organic matter and with good drainage.
Also make sure that when planted in the ground it is a location that doesn’t flood when it rains a lot. The use of a fertilizer for “acid loving plants” is recommended.
Trimming is advisable in the spring to produce a fuller plant.
I also recommend that you remove the spent flower spikes.
This Tibouchina should survive temperatures in the mid 20°s for a few hours, but it is advisable to keep above freezing.
The flowers normally start appearing in late August (even in small pots) and depending on the size of the plant it can last until February.