Tibouchina almost in flower

I can see a bit of purple in the middle!
Look forward to seeing the flower!!

It's a fantastic bloom Tommymoo - I bought it at a charity plant sale for 99pence in April not really knowing what it was! Seeing the blooming plants in the flesh last week was great - the colour is at the point where it could be royal blue or deep purple (depending on the individual). The only trouble is that it's a colour that my camera struggles with!

99p!!!!!!!!
My Lord, what a bargain!!!!! Well done Meanie!!!!
I knew the flower (my parents have one) but never noticed it had the red fluffy outer bits.
Kind of dramatic isn't it~~!?

You knew more than I did when I bought it!!
Having seen the flower I don't think that you'd notice the red fluffy bits. It's certainly a bit of a stunner...

Yes indeed, it's stunning!
Pity the flower lasts only one day.
But that's the beauty of it....

Seem to have waited for ever for the buds to form though!

I'm going to keep an eye on your "photos" for the next couple of days!

It's not as interesting as the flowers Homebird - it was a charity plant sale, so when the lady said "it's lovely" I took her word for it! Having seen them in flower now I can honestly say that she was a good lady!!!

Im watching too,,,cant wait!

Imagine how I feel Tetrach sat here watching it do it's business soooo slowly!!

LOL Meanie!!!

Hey Meanie, is your nose still glued to the bud, or has it flowered at last...still waiting with bated breath!

Me too Tetrach!
Todays update just added. It must be tomorrow surely!

Meanie:

I'm pretty positive this is Tibouchina urvilleana - Princess Flower. It blooms pretty much all year.

This plant grows to more than 20 feet/6 meters tall here in California.

I'll be happy with six feet next year!!

Meanie:

I only know them to grow very quickly in the ground only. I've had several in pots and they usually grow much, much slower.

You're not kidding there!

Meanie:

I think once the roots fill the container this shrub pretty much stops growing. It has a lot of little feeder roots.

Got home tonight and the bud had fallen off! So disappointed.

Awww.. Meanie...... :(

Oh how SICKENING! Grrr...sooo frustrating for you...............and us!! Im so sorry Meanie

Plenty of buds left. I'm wondering if the nights were a little cool, so I'll bring it in at night from now on.

Meanie:

They usually tolerate cool temps at night...however, not cold.

What have your night low temps been like?

About 4 deg c the other night. The plant generally looks ok apart from the bud that was just about to bloom.

Awww.. Meanie...... i will keep fingers crossed for you

Thanks!