As green foliage softens to allow hues of gold and russet to appear, nature gifts us with one final shout of colour. During Autumn, Tibouchina trees burst into bloom with rich purple flowers gracing every landscape. These fabulous plants, Tibouchina lepidota, grow to become an evergreen shrub or a small tree of 5 metres or 15 feet in height. Their vibrant displays of purple blooms are surrounded by small green velvety leaves, each with a pale reverse. The trees require a slightly acidic soil in a sunny open space, thus making them ideal as a street or specimen tree.
Tibouchinas originated in the rain forests of Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. They have a strong association with Brazil, as people used masses of the purple blooms to decorate their churches during the Easter season. Tibouchinas are known popularly as the Glory Bush, and they thrive because no pest or disease ever troubles them. It is only in Hawaii they are considered to be noxious weeds, probably because of their potential to become an invasive species. We are thankful however that their abundant, late blooming beauty has saved them for so many to enjoy.
