Manacá Da Serra

Manacá Da Serra Care

Tibouchina Mutabilis

What is the plant

Tibouchina's are magnificent shrubs that are ideally suited to our tropical to sub-tropical climate. There are many wonderful varieties available that vary in size & colour from 1m shrubs to 6m trees, with deep purples & even pink and white flowers. There are some varieties that flower just about all year round, but their main flowering times are in the warmer months of summer to autumn & they look fantastic!Tibouchina ‘Alstonville’ – The original Tibouchina, it takes its name from the small north coast NSW town of Alstonville where it was developed by the Tibouchina enthusiast Ken Dunstan. This small tree grows to about 5m to 6m in height and is covered in purple flowers. Perfect for ‘front of house’ planting.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

20°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Glory bush and purple glory tree need medium amounts of water, with a deep soaking once a week during the growing season and more during an extremely hot spell. Keep the soil moist but not dripping wet. Princess flowers tolerate more moisture, but they also thrive with weekly watering and moist-to-wet soil.
Pruning
All tribouchina varieties can be pruned by pinching the tips of stems after flowering to encourage bushiness and increase flowering. Cut off dead branches and remove branches that block a path or interfere with walking at any time of year. Prune purple glory tree to keep its tree shape by removing all but one central trunk or to grow it in an espaliered form. Prune the canopy of the tree to keep branches from lowering to the ground or to grow it in an espaliered form.
Fertilizer
Tribouchina thrives in rich, fertile soil. If your soil meets that requirement, a yearly layer of organic compost will help the soil remain fertile. If the soil is poor, feed the plant with an all-purpose garden fertilizer once a month during the growing season, as you would most other plants in your yard.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Tibouchina grows well in full sun, but glory bush and princess flower appreciate partial afternoon shade if they grow in an area with hot summers. Purple glory tree needs five hours or more of direct sun daily.
Soil
They don't like alkaline soils (those soils with a pH of 7 or above), but flourish in slightly acidic soils with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. If your soil is alkaline, the pH can be lowered by adding to the soil Sulphur Powder. Follow the directions on the container to suit your soil type. Alternatively you can plant straight into Azalea, Camellia & Gardenia Specialty Mix for both gardens and pots.
Temperature
Tribouchina will die back at the first frost outside its USDA zones, but you can grow it in a container outdoors and bring the plant inside for the summer. Indoors, place the plant where it will get bright light.

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Additional
Princess flower is classified as a noxious weed in Hawaii because it has invaded natural areas and threatens native plants.
Popularity
177 people already have this plant 49 people have added this plant to their wishlists