If you can find Mexican duranta, it really does make a lovely houseplant. I don’t know why it’s not more easily available — for tropicals, mandevilla is all over, and you can usually find bougainvillea. I’ve only seen duranta at one local nursery, I think, Luurs Garden Center.
But it’s just great — it’s been blooming for four solid months now, August – November, and still going strong. I have mine pruned into a tree shape, which arcs nicely above other houseplants.