Tibouchinas

Posted by Chelsea Bartosz

This time of year is a celebration of bright pink, deep purple or blue flowered trees that peep over garden walls, distracting our eyes from the lurking potholes! I am sure that Roald Dahl was thinking of the Glory Tree or Tibouchina granulosa when he wrote about the giraffe eating the flowers of the pink and purple tinkle tinkle trees in the children’s story book ‘Giraffe, Pelly and Me’.

Varieties of Tibouchinas

Tibouchinas belong to the family Melastomaceae, and we have several closely related indigenous Dissotis species here in Zimbabwe – for those who are interested, visit the Flora Zimbabwe website for more information about Dissotis. The well known T.granulosa is native to Brazil and over the years has become a favourite garden subject in southern Africa. The blue or purple flower is the original colour and from this, the pink ‘Rosea’ and lilac/pink ‘Kathleen’ varieties have been developed. I personally like Kathleen best as it is more vigorous grower and the flowers last for a few days in a vase.

Lassiandra is the common name frequently applied to all tibouchinas but in fact refers to T.semidecandra, a purple flowered shrub with narrow ridged leaves. The soft silvery grey leafed shrub with panicles of small paler purple flowers is T.heteromalla.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”520″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

The original purple/blue coloured Tibouchina granulosa

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”522″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

The Rosea variety is a firm favourite with it’s vibrant pink flowers

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”523″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

Kathleen has a slightly different flower form with shades of lilac and pink

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Two varieties of T.urvilleana that were imported by Witchwood Nursery are ‘Royal Silk’ which has large luxurious purple flowers, and ‘Moonstruck’ with its pink stamens contrasting beautifully with the soft white/pale pink petals. Both these varieties are shrubs with a sprawling habit that can be grown in a pot or planted out under trees that cast a light shade.

Last but not least is T.mutabilis or what I call the Christmas Tibouchina. As it Latin name suggests, it is mutable or changeable. This refers to its flowers which unfurl as a delicate white changing to pale mauve and then a darker mauve as they age. T.mutabilis is a small shrub that flowers in December and can be grown in a pot or garden in light shade/sun, but not intensely hot areas.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”524″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

Close up of a Royal Silk flower

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”525″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

Moonstruck is a scrambling shrub with similar requirements to Royal Silk

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”527″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text]

A pink tibouchina makes an eye catching feature tree in a garden

All tibouchinas enjoy slightly acidic soils with plenty of compost and the young trees and shrubs like regular watering in the hot dry season. They need protection from strong winds and frost and will tolerate sun as long as their roots are mulched and cool. The shrub varieties grow better in semi shade and are very sensitive to hot dry winds. Tibouchinas can be pruned (after flowering) or allowed to ramble – it depends what look you wish to achieve. Tibouchinas are fairly resistant to insects and most diseases although grasshoppers sometimes enjoy lunching on the leaves. Occasional foliar nutrient sprays and slow release compound fertilizers applied in spring and early summer will give the plants a boost before flowering.

Where to buy Tibouchinas

Witchwood Nursery is a wholesale nursery in the Vumba and the main propagator and supplier of Tibouchinas. Email Sue Worsley on: mhumhe@zol.co.zw or phone 0712 610 388 or 0716 263 095 or call in and visit us on Nyamheni Road, just off the main Vumba road. We are 25km from Mutare.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”518″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]