Princess Flower (Tibouchina urvilleana): Velvety Purple Blooms

Princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana), also called glory flower, is a sprawling, evergreen shrub with velvety, deep green leaves and stunning, satiny, royal purple flowers (3–5 inches across) with prominent, curved stamens. It blooms heavily in summer and fall, sporadically year-round in tropics.

Growth

Grows 6–10 feet tall and wide, with a somewhat open, arching habit. The leaves have prominent longitudinal veins. It can be trained as a small tree or espalier.

Culture

Full sun to part shade; rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Water regularly. Pinch to encourage bushiness. Prune after flowering. Hardy in zones 9–11; in zone 9, may die back but resprout. Excellent in containers.

Taxonomy

• Family: Melastomataceae
• Genus: Tibouchina
• Species: urvilleana
• Synonyms: Tibouchina maudhiana, Tibouchina semidecandra, Lasiandra semidecandra