Tibouchina Peace Baby - Glory bush

Tibouchina urvilleana 'Peace Baby' is a wonderful compact white-flowered variety of a tropical bush called "spider flower". It is a tender variety, very floriferous from autumn to winter, ideal for adding an exotic touch to the terrace or garden in a mild climate. Its small size is particularly suitable for pot cultivation, allowing easy sheltering during winter in the conservatory where it will continue to bloom.

Belonging to the Melastomataceae family, Tibouchina urvilleana 'Peace Baby' is a cultivar obtained in France by Pépinière Kerisnel. The plant is a result of cross-breeding with Tibouchina mutabilis, featuring short internodes and more numerous branching. This dwarf and bushy selection reaches about 60 cm in height and width in a pot, forming a dense bush with an upright habit. Its evergreen leaves are opposite on the stems, lanceolate and measure approximately 10 cm long. They are dark green with silvery highlights, covered with a fine down, and have well-marked veins giving them a puckered appearance. From October to December-January, the 5 to 8 cm wide white flowers adorn the bush, composed of five satin petals and prominent curved pink stamens. The bright red flower buds add a beautiful touch of colour before the flowers open and mingle with the white corollas on the plant. This spectacular flowering is devoid of fragrance.

Tibouchina 'Peace Baby' looks stunning in a pot on a terrace or balcony. It can be grown in the ground only in regions where frosts are very rare and mild. It also makes a beautiful conservatory or indoor plant in a bright, cool room. To create a harmonious ensemble, for instance, pair it with Abutilon 'Suntense' with purple flowers, Fuchsia magellanica 'Riccartonii' with tubular purple and red flowers, Solanum rantonnetii 'Charles Pink Star' with pink flowers, and Plumbago auriculata with sky blue flowers. These combinations will offer a varied colour palette throughout the season.