Tibouchina organensis Purple Moon - Glory bush

Tibouchina 'Purple Moon', or Spider Flower, is an exceptional tropical bush, appreciated for its luxurious and prolonged flowering. From late summer to autumn, and even into winter in mild regions, its large, intensely purplish violet flowers enliven the terrace or garden. Large pink floral buds accentuate its charm, complementing its green and velvety foliage. This superb exotic plant makes a big impact in a pot, to be protrcted in winter, or in the ground in frost-free gardens.

Native to Brazil and belonging to the Melastomataceae family, Tibouchina is a large frost-sensitive bush or a small tree. It appreciates warm and humid atmospheres, and the dappled shade provided by tall trees. Grown in our climates, it will rarely exceed 2.50 m in height by 1.25 m in spread, under optimal conditions. Plants grown in pots remain more modest in size.

Tibouchina 'Purple Moon' is a horticultural hybrid. It is a bushy and compact bush, reaching between 1 and 3 m in height with a similar spread, depending on growing conditions. Its young slightly purplish and quadrangular stems green over time. They bear deep green, evergreen foliage of a velvety texture. The oval leaves with prominent veins are about 10 cm long and remain decorative all year round. The open cup-shaped flowers, measuring up to 8 cm in diameter, consist of five satin petals in a purplish violet colour. At the heart of each flower sit several prominent and curved magenta-pink stamens. This spectacular flowering often extends into winter, provided the plant is given light and warmth.

Tibouchina 'Purple Moon' is mainly grown in pots in our climates. Demanding, but rewarding, it thrives in fertile, light, neutral to slightly acidic soil, and appreciates dappled sunlight or bright non-scorching light. In winter, a cool conservatory or a lightly heated room is ideal to protect it from frost. This plant likes humidity, without excess stagnant water. It does not like to be moved in winter, as changes disturb it and can cause both leaves and flowers to fall.

Pair it with contrasting flowering bushes: the intense pink of the Bush Sage 'Cerro Potosi', the purple of Solanum rantonnetii, or the orange of Shrubby Cinquefoil 'Hopley’s Orange'. Tibouchina 'Purple Moon' is a true star of gardens and terraces, rewarding each care given with a breathtaking flowering.