I had walked into ALDI for some bread, salami and cream cheese and walked out with ten pots of Tibouchina Alstonville, a native to south-east Brazil, where people use the massed purple blooms to decorate churches at Easter time. Here in Australia tibouchinas also make quite a statement in autumn with their riot of purple flowers. The best of the larger growing kinds is Tibouchina 'Alstonville', so named because it was produced at Alstonville on the New South Wales north coast.
It's an evergreen shrub or small tree which usually grows to about 5m (15') tall. The foliage is dark green in colour with a pale reverse. 'Alstonville' puts on a brilliant display of violet/purple flowers in late summer and autumn. It makes an excellent street or specimen tree, and responds very well to pruning.
I already have two 'Alstonvilles' growing alongside the carport and will have no problem finding suitable places for another ten, although for the moment I have repotted them into larger pots and placed them in a sunny spot by the house.
