(Tibouchina)

Also known as: Lasiandra, princess flower, glory tree, cane ti or longleaf glory tree

Description:

Tibouchina species usually have fuzzy leaves with prominent veins and showy purple flowers. Tibouchina plants have been grown as ornamentals.

Harm:

• Tibouchina threatens native areas by forming monotypic thickets that outcompete and displace native plants.
• Tibouchina longifolia has naturalized in native ohia forest on the Big Island. Tibouchina urvilleana and Tibouchina herbacea have infested areas of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• Tibouchina species belong to the family Melastomataceae, which includes Miconia calvescens and many other highly invasive plants.
• Certain Tibouchina species are considered invasive in New Zealand and are excluded from French Polynesia.
• All 350 plants in the genus Tibouchina have been declared noxious weeds by the State of Hawaii. It is illegal to sell or transport noxious weeds.

In Hawaii:

• Kauai – Tibouchina urvilleana has naturalized in Kokee State Park and is still grown ornamentally.
• Oahu – Currently Tibouchina is not known to occur in Oahu forests but many are still grown ornamentally. The Oahu Invasive Species Committee will remove your Tibouchina plant and replace it with a native plant for free. Call 286-4616 for information.
• Maui – Certain species of Tibouchina have naturalized on Maui and become pests in native forests, crowding out endangered plant species.
• Big Island – Certain species of Tibouchina have naturalized on the Big Island and become pests in native forests, crowding out endangered plant species

For more information, see:

• Tibouchina herbacea information from HEAR
• Tibouchina herbacea information from PIER
• Tibouchina heteromalla information from HEAR
• Tibouchina longifolia information from HEAR
• Tibouchina granulosa information from HEAR
• Tibouchina urvilleana information from PIER
• Tibouchina urvilleana information from ISSG