Tibouchina urvilleana

Tibouchina urvilleana, also known as Glory Bush, irresistibly attracts attention. Its large, almost fluorescent blue-violet flowers capture light in a unique way. It bears velvety foliage, with silky reflections that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the touch. This highly desirable plant also has a diva temperament inherited from its Brazilian origins; cultivating it in less favourable climates requires knowledgeable enthusiasts or attentive gardeners. Its devastating beauty is worth dedicating some time and providing the necessary care to meet its few requirements!

Tibouchina urvilleana (synonyms: Lasiandra semidecandra, Tibouchina semidecandra, Pleroma macrantha) is a large bush or small tree of the Melastomataceae family, native to southern Brazil and naturalised in many tropical and subtropical regions. As such, it appreciates warm and humid atmospheres and the dappled shade provided by tall trees. In its natural environment, it forms a small tree that can reach up to 5m (16ft) in height. In cultivation, in our climates, it rarely exceeds 2.5m (8ft) in height and 1.25m (4ft) in width, if conditions are optimal. Potted plants often remain smaller in size.

Its growth is quite fast, and its upright habit is not very branched. It forms a short trunk from which a few quadrangular sectioned branches emerge, initially purplish in colour and covered with pubescence when young, later turning more brownish-grey. These slender and brittle stems are very sensitive to wind. They bear particularly ornamental foliage. The evergreen leaves, 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) long, are entire and ovate with pointed tips, and are covered with soft, transparent hairs that give the lamina a magnificent silky sheen. Their upper side is dark green, while the underside is matte. They are traversed by 3 to 5 highly pronounced longitudinal veins. Before falling, they take on a beautiful reddish-orange colour. The late flowering begins in August and can last until September-October. If the plant is kept in full light and in a warm and not too dry atmosphere, some flowers may still appear in winter. But most often, flowering ceases in winter due to decreased sunlight and temperatures. The usually solitary flower buds are tinted reddish-purple. They open into flowers with a diameter of 10cm (4in), composed of 5 satin blue-violet petals arranged in a very open cup. The centre of the corolla is occupied by long, curved, and jointed stamens that resemble little legs. Green, orange, purple, and intense violet, can be found on this bush in full bloom, creating a rather fascinating spectacle. The flowering is followed by the formation of decorative frutescent capsules.

Tibouchina is sensitive to cold, but it can be grown in the ground in certain well-sheltered areas, as evidenced by a beautiful specimen measuring 3.5m (11ft) that thrives in the exotic garden of Roscoff, apparently unaffected by temperatures as low as -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F). It is a sensational plant in full bloom, to be planted alone or at the heart of a bed of more modest plants with long summer flowering. The small orange flowers of bush cinquefoil ('Hopley's Orange'), or the red flowers of bush sage ('Royal Bumble', 'Flammenn') will perfectly enhance its large blue-violet flowers. Just like the small yellow bell-shaped flowers of Diervilla splendens. A bed composed of Eucalyptus macrocarpa (2 to 4m (7 to 13ft) tall, with very large red flowers), Cassia corymbosa, and Melaleuca gibbosa should create a stunning effect in an exotic setting. Cultivating it in a large pot allows it to be adopted almost anywhere. It can spend the entire summer outdoors before overwintering in a greenhouse, conservatory, or even in a moderately heated room at home.