This attractive shrub has erect pubescent squarish stems and forms an open rounded habit. It has light green oval leaves and the violet purple wheel-shape flowers appear solitary from summer to autumn.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Tibouchina urvilleana is naturally found in South America growing in Brazil along the margins of tropical forests.

It prefers a well drained, organic rich moist light soil with a pH range from 5.6 to 7.5 and grows in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tender.

Lasiandra is grown for its bright flowers and sprawling bushy habit. It is planted in parks and gardens along borders as a low screen or as a specimen in small gardens. It is suitable for coastal or inland regions establishing in 2 to 3 years and is moderately long lived. It is also planted in tropical settings for its colour and can be grown as a container plant. In cold regions it is cultivated as a glasshouse specimen.ID 128

Tibouchina(ti-boo-CHEE-na) urvilleana(ur-vil-ee-AH-na)

Tibouchina`: Latinate form of the native Guianan name for this plant; 'urvilleana`: after French botanist Captain Dumont d`Urville.

Melastomataceae (MEL-as-TO-ma-TAY-see-ee)