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Does a Purple Glory Tree Die in the Frost?

Purple glory tree (Tibouchina granulosa), is an evergreen shrub that can be trained to grow into tree form. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11. Zone 10b, the coldest part of the shrub’s hardiness range, can have average annual minimum temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit – only a few degrees above freezing. An outdoor purple glory tree might be able to stand an occasional light frost, but would not survive prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures.

  1. Description

    • Trained as a tree and grown in frost-free hardiness zones, purple glory tree matures at 15 to 20 feet tall, with an equal spread. From May through January it produces panicles or terminal clusters of rose purple flowers, each of which is about 2 inches wide. The glossy leaves are 4 to 8 inches long and serrate or toothed. Purple glory trees have wide, rounded silhouettes and dense foliage. Unpruned branches have a tendency to dip towards the ground.

    Culture

    • Though purple glory tree can withstand temperatures of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, it is best to plant in spring when soil has begun to warm up. Choose a sunny site with loamy, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Leave enough room around the young tree to accommodate its mature width. As the tree grows, pruning is important to maintain either optimal or desired size and prevent a weedy appearance. Make sure the central trunk is free of branches below the crown level and prune any that dip below that.

    Pushing the Zone

    • Sometimes, under special conditions, plants like purple glory tree can be grow in USDA plant hardiness zones just outside of their recommended range. This is referred to as "pushing the zone." A tree planted in USDA zone 10a, for example, might succeed if it were given a southern exposure in a protected location, sheltered by a building, wall or other windbreak. Purple glory tree can even be espaliered or trained to grow flat against a heat-retaining wall. A young specimen, or one that is pruned to remain small, could also be wrapped or protected during cold weather.

    Uses

    • Purple glory tree, when used as a shrub, can be part of a foundation planting scheme or massed into a flowering hedge. The versatile plants are also easy to train up an arbor or arch. Specimens with strong central trunks make excellent stand-alone trees. The plants can be grown in large containers, as well. Within the hardiness range, containers can remain outdoors; outside the range, they can be moved indoors during cold months. Purple glory tree also makes a dramatic greenhouse subject.

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