Glory Bush

 Glory bush (Tibouchina urvilleana)

 

Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment: 10 High Risk

Regulatory Status: Hawaii Noxious Weed List (HAR 68)

Prevention and Control Category: OISC Target Species

Report this species if seen on Oahu

Description

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

tibouchina2Impacts

  • 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.

Distribution

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

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