This shrub to small tree has greyish spreading branches that form a rounded crown. It has mid-green ovate leaves and the wheel-shaped purple flowers appear in a cluster during autumn on square stems with wing-like ridges.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Tibouchina lepidota is naturally found in South America from Ecuador to Columbia growing in sub tropical regions. It prefers a well drained fertile moist soil in an open to protected sunny position and is frost and drought tender.

Lasiandra is grown for its flowers and shrubby habit. It is planted along borders in parks and gardens for colour contrast and as a low screen. It is also planted in tropical settings and may be trained to form a small shade tree and attaining a height of 2m (6ft) in 4 years and maturing to12m (40ft).It is a long lived shrub that may also be pruned to form a hedge and when young it is grown in tubs or planter boxes. ID 256

Tibouchina(ti-boo-CHEE-na) lepidota(lep-ee-DOE-ta)

Tibouchina`: Latinate form of the native Guianan name for this plant; 'lepidota`: scaly (refers to the texture of the leaves); 'alstonville`: refers to the area where this cultivar was developed.

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