The Tibouchina urvilleana, popularly known as the princess flower, is a species of flower native to Brazil. It is a species of flowering plant that is found in warm and frost-free climates. This plant makes for compelling decorative pieces for both small and large houses alike because of its ravishing purple colour and pastel green leaves.
| Common name | Glory Bush, Princess Flower |
| Botanical name | Tibouchina urvilleana |
| Family | Melastomataceae |
| Species | urvilleana |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Plant type | Perennial |
| Hardiness zone | 9, 10, 11 |
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil condition | High Organic Matter |
| Soil ph | Acid |
| Drainage | Occasionally Wet |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Harvest time | Fall |
| Flowering period | Fall |
| Height | 6 ft. – 8 ft. |
| Width | 6 ft. – 8 ft. |
| Flower color | Lavender, Purple |
| Leaf color | Green |
| Fruit color | Brown, Copper |
| Fruit type | Capsule |
| Uses | Coastal |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Pleroma urvilleanum, synonym Tibouchina urvilleana, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae, native to Brazil.
Growing to 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall by 2–3 m (7–10 ft) wide, it is a sprawling evergreen shrub with longitudinally veined, dark green hairy leaves. Clusters of brilliant purple flowers up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter, with black stamens, are borne throughout summer and autumn.
Under the synonym Tibouchina urvilleana, Pleroma urvilleanum has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
With a minimum temperature of 3 °C (37 °F), it requires some winter protection, and in temperate areas is often grown in a conservatory. However, it can also be grown outside in a sunny, sheltered spot. Plants are best grown in acidic and well-drained soils and spread by suckers. It can be trained as a vine and grown on a trellis.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The princess flower prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, provided it still receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. In USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10 it’s a good idea to provide some shade.
Temperature and Humidity
Princess flower is a tropical plant and cannot tolerate frost. If you live in an area where this plant is not winter hardy, grow it in a container, and move the plant indoors before the first frost.
Watering
Princess flower is somewhat tolerant of drought but does best when regularly watered. Unless it’s very hot, weekly watering is sufficient (no more than one inch of water per week, through a combination of rainfall and irrigation). Be careful to avoid overwatering, as very wet soil can injure the plant.
Soil
Your princess flower will appreciate moist, rich soil. While the plant does need regular watering, it’s important that the soil drains well: princess flower can experience root rot if the soil is soggy. This plant prefers a slightly acidic soil, which can be provided through soil amendments such as peat moss, or by feeding it with an acidic fertilizer.
Fertilizing
The princess flower should initially be fertilized in the spring with a commercial fertilizer formulated for species that grow in acidic soil. This fertilizer can be reapplied to the soil in the summer and fall. Reapplication of fertilizer can improve plant growth, but is not necessary in order for the plant to grow well.
Pruning
Like most shrubs, princess flower should be pruned to remove dead or damaged branches at any time. Beyond this, pruning is usually done to maintain a rounded shape or to train it into a standard tree form. Pruning for shape and to control its size is best performed immediately after the shrub finishes flowering.
Pinching off new growth will encourage branch formation and create a fuller shrub.
Propagation
You can propagate princess flower by rooting softwood cuttings. Here’s how:
- Cut four-inch lengths of soft green stem making the cut just below a leaf node.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stem, then dip the ends into rooting hormones.
- Plant the cutting into a container filled with a seed-starter mix.
- Cover the container with a large plastic bag secured at the top or plastic dome.
- Place the cutting in a bright area out of direct sunlight, with temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Open the bag or remove the dome daily to mist the soil and cuttings.
- After 10 to 12 weeks, the cutting should be sufficiently rooted so that it can be potted up in a larger container or planted in an outdoor garden location after hardening off.
How to Grow from Seed
Princess flower is easy to grow from seed. If you’ve collected those seeds yourself, store them in a refrigerator in a paper bag until it’s time for spring sowing. Here’s how:
- In a shallow seed tray, add two inches of moistened seed starting potting mix.
- Plant the seeds one inch apart, covering them with a thin layer of seed starting mix.
- Cover the container with a plastic bag, and set in a warm, bright (but not direct sun) location.
- Replant the seedlings into a larger pot when they are two inches tall.
How to Get to Bloom
Princess flower is a year-round bloomer that produces beautiful deep purple blooms. To encourage it to bloom more, deadhead its spent flowers. This flowering shrub enjoys full sun throughout the day. In hotter climates, it can tolerate a bit less than full sun, five to six hours per day. However, full sun conditions produce larger leaves and more blooms. Ensure that the soil is kept moist, not soaked, and if you see the top of the soil is dry, give the plants a drink because they require water to continue blooming.
Pests and Diseases
Occasionally scale, nematodes, aphids, mealybugs, and geranium budworms might attack princess flower. To manage these, you can introduce beneficial insects such as lady beetles (ladybugs), or spray your plant with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil if insects are present.
Mushroom root-rot can occur if a princess plant is grown in soggy soil. To avoid this problem, water no more than once a week. Do not water a princess flower shrub if it already receives adequate weekly rainfall, one inch per week.
Potting and Repotting
Note the size of the princess flower plant that you want to repot, and size your container no more than one to two inches larger than the pot your plant is currently residing in. Create a potting mix with peat-based soil and perlite, sand, or vermiculite, and wet it well. Scoop one to two inches of this potting mix into the bottom of your container, then place your princess flower on top. Be very gentle when handling the roots. Fill in the rest of the pot with your potting mix then prune the stems with a clean gardening shear.
Overwintering
Because they’re plants hardy in tropical climates, if you want to keep your princess flower from dying back you can grow it in a container and bring it indoors for the winter. One option is to cut a potted plant back to about eight inches and keep it in the garage or basement. If you do keep the plant in the dark, water it only enough to keep it from drying out. After the last frost date has passed, move the plant outdoors.
III. Uses and Benefits
If you’re someone who wants to add a little pop to your garden but doesn’t want it to look too flashy, the princess flower plant might be the perfect choice for you.
Also, it is the recipient of the Award for Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture society, which is only given to a plant if it is of outstanding excellence for garden decoration or use.
The Tibouchina plant is strictly used as an ornamental plant and does not possess any ayurvedic or medicinally beneficial qualities.