Lower Risk

Tibouchina heteromalla (Glory Bush)

(Pleroma heteromallum)

This evergreen shrub is native to Brazil. It has been in the ornamental plant trade in Australia from as far back as 1850 and has not become naturalised in that time. However, the species has been reported as naturalised in parts of the Galapagos with climatic conditions similar to some parts of NSW. There is no evidence that the species has become invasive in any part of the world, however members of the same genus are invasive. Tibouchina urvilleana is invasive in New Caledonia, La Réunion, Samoa, South Africa and on a number of islands in Hawaii, while T. herbacea is a noxious weed in Hawaii. Tibouchina heteromalla produces large quantities of seed which are dispersed by wind and water, and have a high germination percentage. Compared with other Tibouchina species Glory Bush produces violet flowers in summer, sometimes into autumn.