Princess Flower Tibouchina urvilleana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pleroma urvilleanum
- Phonetic Spelling
- tib-OO-kee-nuh ur-VIL-ah-nuh
- Description
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Princess Flower is an evergreen tropical shrub native to Brazil that is best used as an annual or house plant in zones lower than 9. In zone 8 it will die to the ground in winter but may come back in spring. This shrub can be trained into tree form and typically reaches 6-8 feet but can grow to 10-20 feet in warm winter areas. It prefers moist acidic well-drained soil. In hot summer areas, it likes some protection from the afternoon sun. It is tolerant of drought once established and has moderate salt tolerance.
The showy purple flowers appear in terminal panicles and the tree has a long bloom season. The evergreen leaves are dark green with lighter undersides and are 4-6 inches long.
In NC, use as an annual or in containers that can be over-wintered in the house or a greenhouse. Use as a patio tree for accent and as a specimen
Problems: potential pests are scales, mealybugs and nematodes
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tibouchina
- Species:
- urvilleana
- Family:
- Melastomataceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil
- Distribution:
- FL, TX, CA
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 5-parted round capsule maturing to brown
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 3-4 inch purple flowers with 5 petals and purple stamens occur in terminal panicles and can bloom throughout the year in warm winter areas
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves are lighter underneath with bowed parallel venation and soft hairs. They are lanceolate to ovate and 4-6 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. Margins are entire
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Bark Description:
- Bark light Green to tan and Smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
