Enjoy the blooming purple reign - Apr 23, 2013
THE annual display of brilliant purple blooms is about to sweep across the Macarthur region again and envelope suburban backyards into a display worthy of the Chelsea Flower Show.
The annual blooming of the humble tibouchina brightens the region one last time before residents shut up and slow down for the whiter season.
Campbelltown horticulturist Tim Pickles predicted a fabulous season for tibouchinas this year. "It's going to be an absolutely great season." he said.
"Tibouchinas love water, and there has been so much rain over summer. It makes them so happy and they'll be flowering like they've never flowered for years.'*
Mr Pickles said he was sure gardeners who'd never considered planting a tibouchina before would be inspired after this season to give it a go.
"It's really going to inspire people to plant them," he said.
Mr Pickles said tibouchinas were now budding and would flower for the next six to eight weeks.
He said the bushes preferred a frost-free environment so the best blooms grew in places like Leumeah and Ruse.