A native of Brazil, the princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana) is a glorious addition to tropical and sub-tropical gardens. This broadleaf evergreen has large purple flowers and soft hairy leaves that add interest and a burst of color to any landscape. Though princess flower is usually grown as shrub in the U.S, it sometimes becomes large enough to form a small ornamental tree. It can also be used as an indoor container plant in cooler regions if full light and warmth are provided.The leaves of princess flower are 2 to 6 inches in length and 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, covered in soft hair and often tipped with red around the edges. The flowers are 3 to 5 inches wide and a deep, vibrant purple. Princess flower can produce blooms year-round, especially if it is deadheaded to encourage the formation of more flower buds. The fruit is a small brown capsule that is less than 1/2 inch long.Use the princess flower as a specimen plant or for borders and foundations. The large vibrant purple flowers and soft hairy leaves work well in sensory gardens. This shrub is a recipient of the Award of Garden Merit given out by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Princess-flower Care
Tibouchina Urvilleana
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Lighting
Full Sun
Hardiness zone
min 9a
Difficulty
Medium
How to Care for the Plant
Water
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 1 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.
Pruning
Like most shrubs, princess flower should be pruned to remove dead or damaged branches whenever you spot them. Beyond this, pruning is usually done to maintain a rounded shape, or to train it into standard if you prefer a tree shape. Any pruning is best performed immediately after the shrub finished blooming.
Fertilizer
It's best to fertilize your princess flower each spring, summer, and fall. You can use fertilizer intended for acid-loving plants such as rhododendron or azalea, but your plant will also appreciate a bit of manure. Mulching will help your princess flower to retain moisture.
Sunlight
The princess flower prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, provided it still receives at least five hours of direct sunlight each day. In fact, if you are in a particularly hot area, it's a good idea to provide some shade.
Soil
Your princess flower will appreciate damp, 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 acid fertilizer.
Temperature
Princess flower cannot tolerate a real frost and will die back once a frost hits. If you want to keep your plant from dying back you can bring it indoors for the winter. One option is to cut a potted plant back to about 8 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.
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