Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea glabra

Family: Nyctaginaceae (Four o'clock family)Native: South America, primarily Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. It is now naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

A thorny, woody climbing vine or shrub characterized by its papery, vibrant bracts that surround small, inconspicuous white tubular flowers. It has ovate green leaves and can be trained as a vine, shrub, or bonsai.

Light: Full sun; requires 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day to produce vibrant bracts.
Water: Moderate; water thoroughly but allow the plant to dry out significantly between waterings. It is drought-tolerant once established. Yellowing leaves often indicate over-watering.
Growth: Perennial evergreen woody vine or shrub. Can grow 15-40 feet long as a vine, or remain small in containers. It is a fast grower in warm climates.

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Care instructions

Requires full sun for at least 6-8 hours a day to bloom well. Water deeply when the top inch of soil is dry, but avoid waterlogging. Use a well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Fertilize during the growing season with a high-potassium fertilizer.

Growing details

Sunlight

Full sun; requires 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day to produce vibrant bracts.

Watering

Moderate; water thoroughly but allow the plant to dry out significantly between waterings. It is drought-tolerant once established. Yellowing leaves often indicate over-watering.

Soil

Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Root rot occurs easily in heavy, wet soil.

Hardiness zone

USDA Zones 9-11; it is sensitive to frost and will drop leaves if temperatures fall below 40°F (4°C).

Growth habit

Perennial evergreen woody vine or shrub. Can grow 15-40 feet long as a vine, or remain small in containers. It is a fast grower in warm climates.

Bloom season

Blooms year-round in tropical climates; in cooler areas, it blooms primarily in spring and summer. The 'flowers' are actually colorful papery bracts in shades of magenta, purple, red, pink, or orange.

Propagation

Most commonly propagated via semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer. Can also be propagated by layering or seeds, though seeds are rare in cultivation.

Common pests & issues

Susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Over-watering leads to root rot and fungal leaf spot. Lack of flowering is usually due to insufficient light or too much nitrogen fertilizer.

Similar species

Mandevilla (lacks thorns and has large trumpet flowers) and Paperflower (often used as an alternative common name for the same genus).