Family: Melastomaceae
Common Name: Glory Bush, Lasiandra

All 350 species of these evergreen trees, shrubs and subshrubs and herbaceous perennials occur in South America, mostly in Brazil. Most flower profusely from late summer through autumn, with some continuing into winter, in colours gener­ally of blue, purple or white. They can be grown as specimen plants or in mixed shrub borders. Some can be grown in containers. In frost-prone climates, they can be grown in an inter-mediate greenhouse or conservatory.

Species

T. granulosa is a tree growing to 10-12 m (33-40 ft), but is more usually seen as a shrub, 3-5 m (10-16 ft) high. It has heavily veined, oblong or lance-shaped, hairy leaves, to 20 cm (8 in) long. The reddish purple or violet flowers are about 8 cm (3 in) across.

T. laxa, climbing lasiandra, a semi-climbing shrub, grows to about 2 m (6 ft). It has hairy branches and oval leaves about S cm (2 in) long. The sparse, violet-purple flowers, about 10 cm (4 in) across, are borne in clusters.

T. mutabilis is a small tree, growing to 6 m (20 ft), with lance-shaped or oblong leaves up to 10 cm (4 in) long, and reddish, purple or white flowers, about 8 cm (3 in) in diameter, with purple sta­mens.

T. organensis is a shrub, up to 6 m (20 ft) in height, with oval, gray-green, velvety leaves, to 15 cm (6 in) in length. The flowers, with a satiny texture, are blue-purple and about 12 cm (5 in) in diameter.

T. urvilleana, glory bush or lasiandra, is a large shrub or small tree, growing to a height of about 5 m (16 ft). It has oval leaves, about 10 cm (4 in) long, and strik­ing, purple flowers, 12 cm (5 in) across.

Cultivation

In the greenhouse, grow in pots of soil-based potting compost. Shade plants from direct, strong sun, although good light is needed. Outdoors grow in a sunny spot with well drained, humus-rich soil. If necessary, prune in late winter to control size, or to main­tain shape. Propagate from seed in spring, ger­minated at 16°C (61°F), or from semi-ripe cut­tings in summer, in a heated propagating case.

Climate

Warmer parts of zone 10.