The Story
Plant Bio
Tibouchina urvilleana, princess flower, is a dense rounded evergreen shrub from Brazil, six to eight feet high and three to five across. Dark green lanceolate leaves four to six inches long carry soft hairs and distinctive bowed parallel veins, and saucer-shaped royal purple flowers three to six inches across open from spring through autumn.
The purple is unusually intense and saturated for a flower that size, and the velvety leaves with their curved parallel veins are as distinctive as the blooms. The buds and new growth flush red-bronze against the dark foliage. It is genuinely tender, so outside zone 9 it is grown as a container plant and brought under cover for winter.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Shrub
Height
84 inches
Width
48 inches
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones
9, 10
Water
Moderate to high
Humidity
Moderate to high
Lifespan
Perennial
Native To
Brazil
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Marketplace
Where to Buy
Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping
Planting
How to Grow
- Grow in full sun or partial shade in acidic soil.
- Keep the soil moist; it takes occasionally wet ground.
- Feed regularly through the growing season.
- Prune after flowering to keep it dense.
- Pinch tips on young plants to build a frame.
- Bring it under cover before frost outside zone 9.
Pro Tip
Pinch the tips of young plants repeatedly — left alone it grows leggy and vase-shaped, and the dense form is what carries the flowers.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Keep the soil moist 💧
- Feed through the growing season 🌿
- Pinch young growth to build density ✂️
- Move it under cover before frost 🏠
Don't
- Let it dry out ❌
- Grow it in alkaline soil ❌
- Leave it out in frost ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feed | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Companion Plants
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Princess Flower questions
What zones can Princess Flower grow in?
Princess Flower is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Princess Flower deer resistant?
Yes — Princess Flower is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.
When does Princess Flower bloom?
Princess Flower typically blooms in spring to fall through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Princess Flower need full sun?
Princess Flower does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.
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Hardy in your zone?
Grow Princess Flower with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.