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Melastomataceae
Princess Flower
Tibouchina urvilleana
Royalty, calm, lasting beauty.
- Family
- Melastomataceae
- Genus
- Tibouchina
- Native to
- Brazil
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall, Winter
- Type
- Evergreen shrub
- Height
- 1.5–5 m
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Rich, acidic, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 9–11
- Lifespan
- Long-lived shrub
Did you know
- The flowers are an electric royal purple so saturated that they almost seem to glow — one of the most intense purples in the plant kingdom.
- The fuzzy velvety leaves turn red and orange before dropping in cooler weather, adding a second season of interest.
- It's pollinated by carpenter bees that grip the anthers and vibrate them to release pollen — a behavior called 'buzz pollination'.
- In Hawaii and parts of California, princess flowers can become small trees, blooming nearly year-round in frost-free spots.
- Despite the lush tropical look, it's actually a member of the same family as the meadow beauty (Rhexia) of North American wetlands.
Color meanings
Purple
Regal serenity