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Tibouchina

When a tibouchina flowers, the whole plant turns purple. Few shrubs deliver colour this saturated, and it arrives in autumn when most gardens are fading. This range runs from dwarf forms under a metre for pots and borders, through 1.5m to 2m shrubs in purple, pink and white, to the Alstonville, a 4m small tree that is a landmark of east coast suburbs. They are warm climate plants and repay a sheltered spot. Delivered Australia wide.

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How to choose a tibouchina

Size ranges widely. Alstonville is the tree form, 4m tall and 3m wide, covered in violet flowers from late summer to early winter. Noelene reaches about 3m and its flowers open white and age through pink to mauve, so the bush carries three colours at once. Kathleen is the pink at 2m.

For smaller spaces, Jazzie grows to about 2m but can be kept lower and flowers for much of the year. Jules is the true dwarf at 80cm with full sized purple flowers, and Peace Baby is its white counterpart. Chameleon, Illusion, Skylab and Melodie fill the 1.5m band in shades from white and pink to blue purple.

Where tibouchinas work

Tibouchina come from Brazil and are happiest in warm, humid, frost free districts: coastal Queensland and New South Wales above all, and sheltered gardens in Perth. In Melbourne and Adelaide grow the compact varieties in pots against a warm wall and protect them from frost. They flower best in full sun with shelter from strong wind, because the branches are brittle. Use them as feature shrubs, informal screens and street trees, among other flowering plants for subtropical climates.

Planting and spacing

Plant shrub varieties 1m to 1.5m apart and Alstonville 3m apart. They need acidic, free draining soil rich in organic matter. Dig in compost, plant level with the surface and mulch well. Avoid lime and fresh concrete rubble near the roots.

Care basics

Keep the soil moist through summer. Feed in spring and midsummer with a fertiliser for acid loving plants, the same one used for azaleas and camellias. Prune after flowering: take shrubs back by about a third and tip prune young plants to make them bushy. Yellow leaves with green veins mean the soil is too alkaline. Our guide to growing Alstonville tibouchina covers feeding and frost protection.

Common questions

When do tibouchinas flower?

The main show is late summer through autumn. Alstonville peaks from March to May. Jazzie and Jules spot flower from spring to autumn in warm areas.

Can tibouchinas take frost?

Not well. Light frost burns the tips and heavy frost can kill young plants. In cold districts keep them in pots that can be moved under cover.

Do tibouchinas grow in pots?

The dwarf and compact varieties do very well in a 40cm or larger pot with a mix for acid loving plants and regular feeding.

How fast do they grow?

Quickly in warm weather: shrubs reach flowering size in their first or second year, and Alstonville makes a small tree in about four years.