Tibouchina

It's late summer in the south - the Princess Flower is blooming (I think it's Tibouchina urvilleana).  This plant, often classified as a large shrub or small tree in Florida (and an invasive Genus in Hawaii) - is just perfect here in South Carolina (and north of southern Florida) because the winters are cool enough that it dies back each winter and doesn't get a chance to get too leggy or large.  I also have (in a pot) it's relative, often called Purple Glory Bush (T. heteromala) - it's spectacular in bloom, although mine hasn't cooperated yet - I'm optimistic about it blooming this fall.  I'll keep you posted.

A nice thing about Tibouchina's is that they propagate from cuttings really easily - if you've got one, you can easily take some cuttings, perhaps use a little rooting hormone, and stick them into some potting soil - I've had success with and without rooting hormone, and I generally consider myself a neglectful propagator (so, it didn't get much attention - I'm horrible with things in pots generally - I don't have a single plant inside my home).  My cutting came from a colleague-friend where I did my postdoctoral work in Florida.  I've always had a soft spot for Richard - he was moody, often cranky, a bit whiny, and perhaps one of the most intelligent and methodical scientists that I've ever known.  Once you cut through whatever mood he was in, he was a wealth of information - and off-hours he and his spouse (who was an incredible quilter) were wonderful to spend time with.  While I was there, they were just getting into gardening - and so during my first visit to their home, Richard gave me a cutting of his princess flower.  That cutting took off, and grew happily in my backyard during my two-year stay along Florida's Gulf Coast, and as I was driving away in my U-haul to relocate to South Carolina, at the last minute I remembered to grab a cutting.  So now - Richard's cutting is gracing my garden along the Atlantic coastal marshes.

I haven't talked to Richard in a long time.  A number of years ago I got a surprise gift from him in the mail - a copy of Taylor's Guide to Heirloom Vegetables by Benjamin Wilson.  When I called him to say thanks, he had told me that he was relocating to New Orleans.  This morning, as I noticed the purple flowers gracing my plant, I felt horribly that I hadn't touched base with him after Katrina.

I need to do that.

   

Comments

[Heather]

He may need to hear from an old friend, or perhaps it is your need. Either way, sometimes those little whispers are hard to ignore.

[Pam]

Heather: I've already found his e-mail address, and sent him one...couldn't dig up a phone number in New Orleans...

[rdl]

Beautiful blue, I wonder if it would make it here in Mass.

[Annie in Austin]

Good luck with reconnecting - bet he'll be glad, too.

It's amusing to think that if I planted that beautiful but invasive blue flower, instead of the normal gardening wish for it to do its best, instead the correct thing to do is hope that it dies back over winter and barely survives!

Annie

[Pam]

rdl: I think it would have to stay in a pot, and put inside during the winter - in your neck of the woods.

Annie: I have alot of stuff in my garden where I'm relieved that it gets cold enough here to kill it to the ground - it is pretty strange though...I had thought of it that way.

[linda garner]

I have had several Tibouchinas over the years. I live in the southwest of England, so we don't get too many frosts, though I do put it in an unheated greenhouse in winter.
I have just purchased one for my birthday and already in early August it has about 10 buds. I simply love the magnificent purple flowers. This year I am going to take cuttings, and hope to be successful.
Linda August 2010