Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes and trees belonging to the four o' clock family. They are native to South America. The inconspitous flowers are surrounded by brightly coloured papery bracts, the bracts are purple or magenta to lighter tints in certain varieties.
Planting Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea needs lots of sun. Plant one in a shady spot and you won't get the riot of blooms — the whole point of planting bougainvillea. You'll get vines and thorns. It needs at least six hours of sun per day
The soil must be well-drained soil. They don't like to remain wet for too long and can get root rot in heavy soil. They like gritty, loose soil.
Handle the root ball with care. Bougainvillea roots are thin and can be easily damaged during transplanting.
Water after planting and then weekly until the plant is established. Once it's established (which generally takes one to two years), stop watering it except in times of extreme drought. Bougainvillea likes it dry.
Caring For Bougnvillea
Prune your plant throughout the year, but especially in the late winter before the new growth cycle. For best bloom, trim all branches back to 20 feet or less.
Bougainvillea blooms on new growth, so you can prune after each bloom cycle.
Pinch off the ends of vines that are about to bloom. You'll get a denser display of bracts.
If you're getting regular rain once the vine is established, you don't need to water. Bougainvillea likes it dry. It prefers a good, deep watering every three or four weeks to frequent shallow waterings. Give a bougainvillea too much water and it can get fungal diseases and root rot.
Bougainvillea blooms better when kept on the dry side. Too much water will give you lots of green growth and fewer flowers. Keep it dry.
Cold is a problem. These tropicals don't like to go below 30 degrees. They can withstand one or two nights of a light freeze but anything more and they'll die. Established vines can stand up to a periodic cold snap better than recently planted ones.
Don't fertilize it. This tough plant doesn't need it. But do feed the soil around it with compost. A 3-inch layer of compost in the spring is plenty. If you must fertilize, use a palm and hibiscus food.
Recommended Bougnvillea Varities
'Afterglow' is a heavy bloomer with yellow-orange blossoms.
'Barbara Karst' is a popular selection and a vigorous grower with large clusters of magenta blooms all summer and fall. Climbs to 40 feet.
'California Gold' is one of the best performing yellow bougainvilleas. Climbs to 30 feet.
'Imperial Delight' has pink and white blooms in the summer and is one of the more cold-hardy varieties, hardy grown to Zone 9.
'James Walker' has red-purple blooms and blooms year-round in frost free zones.
'Moneth' or Purple Queen has deep purple blooms and can grow 15 feet tall if supported, 1-1/2 feet tall when grown as a groundcover.
'Sundown Orange' has bracts that begin deep orange, mature to salmon and fade to coral. Climbs 20 feet and can stand high heat.
'Bengal Orange' has pink-orange blooms and grows just 1.5 feet tall, or 6 to 8 feet wide if grown as a ground cover.
'Rosenka' has golden pink blooms and gets 1 to 2 feet tall and3 to 4 feet wide.
'Singapore White' or Miss Alice has white blooms and grows 2 to 3 feet tall. It's a thornless semi-dwarf that's tolerant of high heat and humidity.
'Helen Johnson' is a true dwarf bougainvillea, a hardy little shrub that stays under 3 feet and has hot pink blooms.
'Pixie', another true dwarf, grows in tufts of thick branches and is more shrub than vine. It stays under 3 feet and blooms in pink. Imported from the Philippines, it's often trained as a bonsai.
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