It is amazing how Australia has fallen in love with the many Tibouchina varieties now available. Originally from South America they will grow well in cooler areas and thrive in warmer climates. Here in our cool winters, they thrive in a sunny frost free position.
Varieties such as ‘Alstonville’ and the smaller growing Tibouchina ‘Jules’, are popular varieties of this free flowering shrub or small tree.
Characterised by large purple flowers, they come in other colours than purple including pink and white. They also come in dwarf forms. So variety is available to fit most landscaping needs.
Tibouchina ‘Alstonville’ is very popular in Australia, wonderful velvety textures foliage and glorious purple flowers. In Australia these plants were commonly called Lasiandra, in fact the small town of Wauchope has a Lasiandra festival around March each year.
How to Grow Tibouchina
The ‘Purple Glory Shrub’ is a much loved plant in QLD, however in the right conditions it is a plant that can be grown as far south as Melbourne where we have seen them growing successfully in the Dandenong Ranges outside of Melbourne as shrubs or small trees.
In a good protected position they require very little care, a slightly acidic soil will assist with growth.
All varieties prefer a well drained, slightly acidic soil, a ph of 5-6, however they are reasonably versatile and will grow in most warm to temperate regions. Tibouchina can be pruned after flowering to maintain shape. These are pest and disease resistant plant.
How To Grow Tibouchina – basic Care
- These are a plant that naturally grow well in an open understory position.
- They flower in late summer to autumn.
- Plant in a frost free position with protection from very hot afternoon sun.
- Branches are prone to wind damage especially when laden with flower buds so protect from strong winds.
- A humus rich moist soil and remember to mulch in summer.
- Tip prune to keep in shape in spring to late summer.
- Hard prune in early spring if required.
- Slow release fertilizer in spring and some liquid seaweed fertilizer in late summer seems adequate, although these do not seem to be a ‘hungry’ plant.
- Mulch around the plant with sugar cane mulch to maintain moisture.
Pruning Tibouchina
One of the great things about Tibouchina is how easy they are to prune.
The best time to prune is after flowering, allowing the plant time to develop new growth before the next flowering season.
However, they are very forgiving plants. We have cut older Tibouchina plants back heavily, almost to ground level, and they have responded with fresh new growth.
Pruning helps:
- Maintain a compact shape
- Encourage bushier growth
- Control size
- Remove damaged branches
Tip pruning from spring through summer will help keep smaller varieties dense and attractive.
Propagation
- The best time to propagate Tibouchina or Lasiandra plants by taking cuttings is in spring as the weather warms a little.
- If you take a cutting at around 15 cms, or 6 inches just below a leaf node, with 3 sets of leaves, plus the tip above the cutting.
- Remove the lower two sets of leaves with a sharp knife. Leaving the top set of leaves plus the tip.
- Trim the top set of leaves back by 50%
- Dip the stem into some honey, or a hormone rooting powder.
- Plant the cutting in a 50% perlite 50% fine potting mix.
- Water regularly with a liquid seaweed fertiliser and mist spray frequently over the first few weeks.
- For best results place the cutting in its pot under a clear cover to retain humidity.
- Leave the cutting in a warm shady position until you see good signs of new growth.
Why Is My Tibouchina Not Flowering?
If your Tibouchina is growing well but not flowering, there are usually a few possible causes.
Pruning at the wrong time
Tibouchina flowers on new growth, but pruning too late can remove developing flower buds. Ideally prune shortly after flowering.
Too much fertiliser
High nitrogen fertilisers encourage foliage growth rather than flowers. If your plant is producing lots of leaves but few flowers, reduce fertiliser and allow the plant to settle.
Not enough sunlight
While Tibouchina can tolerate part shade, too much shade can reduce flowering. In cooler climates, more sun generally produces better flowering.
Choosing The Right Tibouchina Variety
The taller cultivars will reach to around 3 – 4 m and do suffer a little in windy positions as the stems can be brittle.
The lower growing or dwarf types such as ‘Jules’ will reach around 1m in height and are an excellent choice for growing in containers as well as in the garden border.
The flowers are seen as being purple, typical of the ever popular ‘Alstonville’, however pink flowering varieties such as ‘Kathleen’ have been available for some years. Some varieties have flowers that change colour and ‘Noeline’ was one of the first, white flowers that turn topple over a few weeks.
- ‘Alstonville’ To around 3 metres in height with a similar spread. Easily pruned to 1 metre. A proven performer and easy care.
- ‘Jules’ Will reach around 1 – 1.5 metres and is very long flowering. This is a variety that seems to require better drainage than most.
- T. ‘Purple Pixie’s’ is a low growing variety to 2m.
- T. Jazzie is even smaller to around 1.5m similar to Jules in height.
- T. urvilleana grows to 4m.
- T. ‘Kathlene’ will get to 2m +
- T. laxa ‘Skaylab’- A climbing variety
Dwarf Varieties
Suited to smaller gardens the dwarf forms are also excellent for growing in containers, however they will still need protection from frosts. The first dwarf variety we encountered was ‘Jules’ and reaching around 1 metre in height it is a great selection for growing in a container.
- ‘Groovy Baby’ A good choice for container growing, will reach around 50 cm in a rounded bushy shrub. Long flowering.
- ‘Peace Baby’ If you want white flowers in small growing shrub, this is the one. Peace Baby has pink stamens contrast well against the white petals, this is a dwarf variety developed in Australia.
- Cool Baby develops a mixture of white and pink flowers, another small growing cultivar suited to containers.
Where To Buy Tibouchina Plants
412 James Lane, Fern Hill VIC. 3458 - Phone 0419002651
Large range of Rare plants, Climbers, Bulbs, Perennials Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Available both Retail and by Mail Order
www.whitehousenursery.com.au
Wholesale Suppliers
111 Stanhope Road Theresa Park NSW 2570
Offering a variety of sun hardy Australian natives and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcover's and perennials from semi advanced through to super advanced and semi-mature stock.
www.downesnursery.com.au
Why is Tibouchina sometimes called Lasiandra ?
Tibouchina and lasiandra are the exact same plant. Lasiandra is simply the old, traditional common name used in Australia for decades, while Tibouchina is the current botanical genus name.
Lasiandra is from the Greek words Lasios and Andros, meaning woolly-stamened
Tibouchina is the native name for the plant from the Guina regions of South America Guyana (British Guiana), Suriname (Dutch Guiana), and French Guiana
And no Tibouchina do not have invasive root systems