Tibouchina

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Tibouchina semidecandra.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Melastomataceae >

Tibouchina >


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Tibouchina (pronounced /ˌtɪbuːˈkaɪnə/,[1] syn. Lasiandra DC.) is a genus of about 350 species of neotropical plants in the family Melastomataceae. They are trees, shrubs or subshrubs growing 0.5-25 m tall, and are known as "glory bushes" or sometimes "glory trees". They are native to rainforests of Mexico, the West Indies, and South America, especially Brazil. The name comes from an adaptation of the native Guiana term for these shrubs.


Read about Tibouchina in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Tibouchina (native name in Guiana). Including Pleroma. Melastomaceae. Shrubs or subshrubs, rarely herbs, sometimes climbing, usually strigose-pilose or hispid, adapted to the warmhouse or to out-of-doors in the extreme South.

Leaves usually large, leathery, petioled, ovate or oblong, entire, 3-7-nerved: fls. generally in trichotomous terminal panicles, large, violet or purple, rarely 4-merous; calyx hirsute or strigose, tube ovoid, campanulate, urn-shaped or elongated, lobes 5, subulate, lanceolate or oblong; petals 5, obovate; stamens 10; ovary free or adhering toward the base to the 5 calyx-ribs, 5-celled: caps. 5-valved.—About 215 species, Trop. Amer., but chiefly from Brazil.

Tibouchinas are among the handsomest of our intermediate greenhouse plants, and can be readily trained in bush form; probably with the exception of T. semi-decandra, which is better adapted as a pillar or trellis plant. These plants may be propagated at any time of the year, but early spring is the best season. Small pots should be half filled with sandy loam, the remainder being all sand and the cuttings inserted singly. They should be kept quite close and fairly moist, and they will root in a few weeks. After they are rooted, place them in a greenhouse with a night temperature of about 55°, allowing a rise of 20° in the middle of the day. Pinch the heart out as soon as they begin to grow, and a few days after they have been cut back, move them into a pot about 3 inches larger. A good fibrous loam may now be used for all future pottings, and as the plants get stronger about a third of sheep-manure may be added, also a little sharp sand and charcoal, to keep the soil sweet and porous. Give plenty of light at all times, but avoid strong sunshine. Give plenty of water, and syringe the under side of the foliage to prevent red-spider, which is about the only insect that is troublesome. Never allow the plants to become pot-bound until the size desired for flowering is attained. Give strict attention to keeping the plants in shape, by pinching the strong shoots, and tying them to the outer edge of the plants, allowing the weaker ones to grow, and fill up the middle of the plant. In summer the plants may be placed out-of-doors, and plunged to the rim of the pot, in a bed of ashes; but never allow the sun to strike them directly, as it will disfigure the foliage. These plants are excellent for exhibition purposes and conservatory decoration. The species T. elegans and T. semidecandra are worthy of general cultivation.

There is a plant offered in the trade under the name of Pleroma candidum, Hort. Bull, described as being a shrub with dark green ovate-lanceolate lvs., densely silky-hairy, the 5 longitudinal veins very prominent beneath: fls. snowy white, about 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 in. across, borne in loose terminal heads. Said to have been intro. from S. Austral. As there are no Tibouchinas known outside of S. Amer. it is not likely that this is correctly placed in Pleroma; the proper identification of the plant is at present impossible. — T. lepidota, Baill. (Lasiandra lepidota, Naud.), is a plant which has been much confused and is still uncertain. — There is a plant at least formerly cult. under the name of Pleroma sarmentosum, Hook. Small villous shrub with the branches and branchlets sarmentose: lvs. short-petioled, ovate or oblong, acute, base rounded or cordate, 7-nerved, pilose: fls. blue, about 2 in. across; calyx-tube obovoid or subglobose, densely tomentose: petals cuneate-obovate. Peru. Its position and name in Tibouchina are uncertain. — T. stenocarpa, Cogn. Shrub with acutely 4-angled branches which are sometimes somewhat winged: lvs. short-petioled, usually oblong, base generally short-attenuate, 5-nerved, silky villous: fls. many in a terminal panicle, usually rather large, purple or violet-purple; calyx-tube campanulate; petals narrowly obovate-cuneate. Brazil. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Occasionally scale, nematodes, and geranium budworm. Mushroom root-rot can occur if over-watered.

Species

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References

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  1. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
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