Tibouchina

What's the most popular category of plants? It would be pretty easy to say "flowering patio plants" or "tropical color."

Whatever you want to call it, you know what I'm talking about: Mandevilla, Allamanda, Hibiscus, Brugmansia, Bougainvillea and the list goes on. None of these plants can take the cold, but they're popular throughout the country for their enormous, bordering on tacky, flower displays.

Well here's another bound to be among the most popular patio plants -- Tibouchina. It's common in Florida and Southern California and it's just starting to gain attention in other areas.

Soft, fuzzy and purple

The most commonly grown species is T. urvilleana. It has outstanding purple flowers and its foliage is soft, fuzzy and attractive as well. It's hardy to only USDA Hardiness Zone 10, but that hasn't kept Hines Nurseries Inc. in Irvine, Calif., from selling it across the country. This year the company had a pair of 10-foot specimens in its booth at the Pennsylvania Allied Nursery Trade Show in July.

"It's surprising how many tropicals like Tibouchina we're sending to colder regions," said John Burke, Hines new product coordinator. "People are trying these things and a number of good plants are spreading across the country to places that have been traditionally considered out of their ranges."

Hines mostly sells Tibouchina in the 5-gallon range, though employees are developing better ways to ship larger specimens. These plants have brittle leaves and traditionally have to be shipped in sleeves to reduce damage.

"It will take wind, but not real jarring that it might take during transport. I've tested other species and found out that was the case with them, too," Burke said.

Besides T. urvilleana, Mark Herndon, owner of Black Olive East Nursery in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., recommends T. grandifolia, with larger, fuzzier leaves that can reach 10 inches long and across, and T. granulosa, with dark-purple flowers and narrow leaves with sandpaperlike textures.

Herndon propagates Tibouchina from tip cuttings in a fog chamber. The most difficult species to root is T. granulosa, which requires more air movement than the chamber provides. This species is rooted outdoors under mist.

Insects aren't any more problematic on Tibouchina than any other tropical flowering plant, but watch for aphids and spider mites.

For more: Mark Herndon, Black Olive East Nursery, 3601 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312; (954) 985-8787; fax (954)985-9913. John Burke, Hines Nurseries Inc., 12621 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, CA 92720-2101; (800) 444-4499; fax (714) 786-0968.

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Specifics

Name: Tibouchina

Common name: Princess flower, glory bush, pleroma, lasiandra.

Family: Melastomataceae.

Description: Tropical shrub up to 15 feet tall with light- to dark-purple flowers. Leaves are gray-green and heavily textured.

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 10.

Uses: In tropical areas it makes a good landscape plant. Throughout most of the country it is best suited as a patio plant that can be overwintered indoors near a bright window.
Pests/diseases: None serious, but watch for aphids and spider mites.

- Todd Davis