“Some mornings it just doesn’t seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.” – Emo Philips
“Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for.” – Earl Warren
PAUL’S PLANT PICK
August 2009
Archive Paul's Plant Pick
Tibouchina urvilleana
I first saw this beauty growing as a specimen in a Florida garden, and I instantly fell in love with it. After all, what’s not to love?
Better known as Glory Bush or Princess Flower, Tibouchina urvilleana is a tender evergreen perennial shrub in frost-free areas. Native to Brazil, it’s hardy in USDA Zones 8-12. In Zone 8, frost may kill the top growth back to the ground, but the rootball is hardy enough that the plant should return in spring.
Tibouchina urvilleana Glory Bush
Elsewhere in the country, Tibouchina makes a great container plant, and it’s easy to care for. Give it a rich potting mix, water it regularly, and place it in a sunny spot. Then wait for the show.
By midsummer, Tibouchina begins to put on a spectacular display of bluish-purple flowers, often covering the entire plant. And it continues to bloom for weeks without the need for deadheading.
But even without the flowers, Tibouchina is beautiful. It’s soft, velvety leaves deserve to be caressed.
Glory Bush
Glory Bush
I’ve never tried to overwinter this baby in my unheated garage, but I’m going to give it a try this year. My plan is to bring it in before temperatures drop below 50-degrees Fahrenheit, water it sparingly, and hope for the best. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Glory Bush
One final word about Tibouchina: It’s considered a potentially noxious weed in Hawaii, but elsewhere it appears to be well-behaved.
