Alphabetical Plant Listing

Bougainvillea: How to Grow and Care with Success

Beautify your world with Bougainvillea – vibrant colors for indoor and outdoor blooms!


What is Bougainvillea?

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America, particularly Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. It belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family and is widely known for its vibrant, colorful bracts and rapid growth.

Description: Bougainvillea is a tropical, evergreen, woody vine with thorny, branching stems. Its leaves are dark green and oval-shaped, with a slightly leathery texture. The true flowers are small, tubular, and typically white or yellow, but the plant is best known for its showy bracts, which are modified leaves that surround the flowers. Bracts come in various shades of pink, red, purple, orange, and white.

Growth habit: Bougainvillea is a vigorous grower that can be trained as a vine, shrub, or tree. It can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or directly in the ground, and it is often used for climbing walls, trellises, or fences.

Size: Depending on the variety and growing conditions, bougainvillea can reach heights of 15 to 40 feet (4.5-12 meters) and spread 10 to 20 feet (3-6 meters).

Flowers and blooming season: The showy bracts appear throughout the year in tropical climates, with the most prolific blooming occurring in spring and autumn. In cooler regions, bougainvillea may bloom from late spring to early autumn.

Hardiness: Bougainvillea is a tropical plant and is best suited to USDA hardiness zones 10-11 but will survive in Zone 9 if protected. It is not frost-tolerant, and the minimum temperature that bougainvillea can tolerate is around 40°F (4°C).

Uses: Bougainvillea is primarily used as an ornamental plant for its stunning display of colors. It is often grown in gardens, parks, and landscapes for its vibrant, long-lasting bracts.

Toxicity: Bougainvillea is mildly toxic to humans and pets, causing irritation and vomiting if ingested. Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation and rashes.

Invasive: Bougainvillea can become invasive in some regions due to its rapid growth. It is essential to keep the plant under control through regular pruning and monitoring.

What is Special about Bougainvillea?

Bougainvillea is special for several reasons, which contribute to its popularity as an ornamental plant:

Vibrant bracts: The most notable feature of bougainvillea is its stunning, colorful bracts that come in a wide range of hues, including pink, red, purple, orange, and white. These bracts create a striking visual display that attracts attention and adds a splash of color to any landscape.

Versatility: Bougainvillea is a versatile plant that can be trained as a vine, shrub, or tree, making it suitable for various applications in gardens, parks, and landscapes. It can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or directly in the ground, and it is often used for climbing walls, trellises, or fences.

Prolific blooming: In the right conditions, bougainvillea can bloom almost year-round in tropical climates. This extended blooming period ensures a continuous display of vibrant colors.

Drought tolerance: Once established, bougainvillea is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering. This characteristic makes it a suitable choice for xeriscaping or low-water gardens in regions with water restrictions.

Low maintenance: Bougainvillea is a relatively low-maintenance plant, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain its shape and encourage more abundant blooms.

Attracts pollinators: The nectar-rich flowers of Bougainvillea attract hummingbirds and butterflies, promoting a healthy ecosystem and adding to the overall beauty and diversity of your garden.

Deer: Deer tend to avoid bougainvillea due to its thorny stems and toxicity.

Overall, the combination of stunning, vibrant bracts, versatility in growth forms, and relatively low maintenance requirements make bougainvillea a special and popular plant for landscaping and ornamental purposes.

Guide Information

Hardiness 9 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Climbers, Shrubs
Plant Family Bougainvillea
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Salt
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls and Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
Compare All Bougainvillea Guides with Bougainvillea

Eric Valenne geostory, Eleni Mac Synodinos, Shutterstock, 

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 9 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Climbers, Shrubs
Plant Family Bougainvillea
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Salt
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders, Walls and Fences
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
Compare All Bougainvillea Guides with Bougainvillea

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