Tibouchina urvilleana

Description

Tibouchina urvilleana

Tibouchina urvilleana, commonly known as the glory bush or princess flower, is a striking evergreen shrub prized for its velvety, dark green leaves and vivid purple, silky-textured flowers that appear from summer through to autumn. Under glass or in favourable conditions it can reach 2-3m in height with a spread of around 1.5-2m, though it is often grown smaller in pots.

This tender shrub is not reliably hardy in the UK and needs protection from frost, making it best suited to a conservatory, greenhouse or sheltered, sunny patio in summer. Grow in fertile, well-drained, humus-rich compost, watering freely during the growing season and reducing in winter.

Feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser through summer, and prune in early spring to maintain a bushy shape and encourage further flowering.