Tibouchina urvilleana - Princess flower, Glory flower
Family Melastomataceae

Description:

Over three hundred species of Tibouchina range from Mexico through South America and into the Caribbean. They are shrubs or small trees with showy purple or pink flowers. This species is native to southern Brazil and can grow to twelve feet or more. It produces large, purple flowers over a long season. 

Location:

See this plant on the west side of building 2.

Size:

Large shrub to twelve feet tall.

Care Instructions:

Light: full sun to part shade

Water: best in moist, well-drained soils, not very drought tolerant

Soil: acidic soils

This may be the cold hardiest species of this mostly tropical genus. It is killed to the ground by winter lows in the mid-20’s F. In north Florida, it will recover in spring.