How to Grow Tibouchina
Tibouchina urvilleana
Tibouchina needs full sun, warmth, and shelter from cold winds. Plant in well-drained, slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. Water regularly and feed with a balanced or high-potash fertiliser in spring and summer. It flowers almost continuously from summer through autumn — deadhead lightly to encourage the next flush. Cut back by a third in spring to maintain vigour. Not frost hardy; protect below 5°C or bring containers indoors.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring and early summer with a balanced or potassium-rich fertiliser to encourage flowering. Avoid excessive nitrogen.
Watch For
- Aphids
- Whitefly
- Red spider mite in dry conditions
- Leaf drop from cold or drought stress
Companions
Bougainvillea, Plumbago, Agapanthus, Salvia
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun; sheltered from cold wind
Requires full sun for prolific flowering. Needs shelter from cold winds which damage the soft foliage. A warm south-facing wall is ideal in cool climates.
Watering
Regular; keep moist but well-drained
Water regularly during the growing season, especially in dry spells. Do not allow to dry out completely. Reduce watering in winter when in a cool position.
Fertilizing
Balanced or high-potash feed in spring and summer
Feed with a balanced or potassium-rich fertiliser in spring and early summer to encourage flowering. Avoid high nitrogen which promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning
Cut back by a third in spring; deadhead after each flush
In spring, prune back by one-third to stimulate new flowering shoots. Remove spent flowers after each bloom flush. Avoid hard pruning into old wood.
Spacing
1.5–2 m apart
Allow 1.5–2 m between plants. Can be trained as a wall shrub or espalier against a warm wall. Container plants can be kept more compact with annual pruning.
