Bougainvillea

( boo - gan - VILL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering shrubby vines with impressive colors and fast growth. They are commonly called Paperflower, and love full sun, requiring moderate to regular water. Take care when handling and pruning these beauties, as they have long, very sharp thorns, and their sap can cause skin irritation and rashes. The colored parts that many people believe are flowers are actually bracts - the flowers themselves are insignificant and located inside the colorful bracts. These vines bloom mainly in summer, but in mild climates (and if given the right protection) blooms can occur throughout the year. Most varieties have single flowers, though some double-flowered varieties are available.

Bougainvillea Species and Varietals

The genus Bougainvillea includes 16 species and countless varietals, and is a member of the plant family Nyctaginaceae.  Bougainvillea vines grow best in zones 12-17, 19-24, H1 and H2 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map). All plants are reliably hardy in zones 22-24, H1 and H2. In zones 12-17, 19, and 21, they will need some shelter from frost, which can seriously damage the plant. In zones 12, 14, and 19-21 the plant will need to be in a spot where it gets extra warmth from reflected heat off of walls.

Bougainvillea glabra (Lesser Bougainvillea, Paperflower)
This species of vines is the species most often used as Bougainvillea bonsais. The specific epithet 'glabra' refers to the fact that the leaves are 'bald' on the top (they are somewhat fuzzy underneath). These vines reach between 10 and 12 feet in length, and produce white flowers hidden by magenta pink papery bracts.

Bougainvillea spectabilis (Great Bougainvillea)
This species is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina, and is widely grown as an outdoor ornamental plant. These plants can reach up to 40 feet in length, and produce tiny white flowers and bracts that range in color from red, mauve, purple and red to white and orange.

Bougainvillea x buttiana
This garden hybrid species is a cross between Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea peruviana. It reaches about 16 feet in length and 5 feet wide, and produces dark green leaves and white flowers with magenta bracts. Popularly grown varieties include 'Mrs. Butt', 'Miss Manila', and 'Poulton's Special'.
Bougainvillea Varietals and Hybrids
The following list of Bougainvillea varieties is divided according to bract color; these hybrids and varietals are commonly grown as ornamental plants, and have differing care instructions.
White-Bract Bougainvillea
In the hottest climates, white (and yellow) bracted Bougainvilleas need extra shelter from the heat; they should be placed in areas that receive light shade.
'Mary Palmer's Enchantment'
Vigorous grower with pure white bracts.
​'Singapore White'
('Miss Alice')
Thornless species that is shrubby and compact, gets to about 3-4 feet tall and wide. Some pruning needed to keep its small size. 
​'White Maddonna'
White bracts with a tinge of light pink.
Yellow- to Orange- Bract Bougainvillea
This group of Bougainvilleas (mainly the yellow-bracted varieties) need extra heat and sun protection, and should be planted in an area that receives light shade.
'Bambino Baby Sophia'
Orange-bracted, grows to 5 feet tall. 
'California Gold' ('Sunset')
Blooms when young, and has deep golden yellow bracts.
'Delta Dawn'
Green and white variegated leaves, with golden-yellow flowers and yellow bracts.
'Gold Rush'
Fast grower, with gold bracts.
'Orange King'
Open growth habit, with bronze-orange bracts; this species cannot take frost and needs long warm periods to bloom. 
Pink-Bract Bougainvillea
Pink is one of the most common colors of Bougainvillea planted, their striking bract color contrasts nicely against dark green leaves. 
'Camarillo Fiesta'
Hot pink and gold bracts.
'Cherry Blossom'
Double-flowers with rose-pink bracts with white to pale green centers.
'Rosenka'
Can be pruned as a shrub.
'Singapore Pink'
Thornless species with bright pink bracts. Shrubby and compact variety that gets 3-4 feet tall and wide.
'Tahitian Maid'
Extra rows of bracts that give the flowers a double effect; blush pink.
'Texas Dawn'
Large sprays of flowers with purplish pink bracts.
'Torch Glow'
Erect grower to 6 feet tall and wide. No support is needed for this species. Reddish-pink bracts protect blooms close to the stem and are partially hidden by leaves.
'Adarna'
Part of the 'Citra' or 'Chitra' family of Bougainvillea, this plant has mottled peach, pink, yellow, and magenta bracts.
Red-Bract Bougainvillea
​Bougainvillea with red bracts vary in shape, size, and habit. See the below descriptions for more information.
'Barbara Karst'
Blooms young and for a long period; bright red bracts that have a bluish tint in the shade. Thrives in desert; will regrow after frost.
'Crimson Jewel'
Great in containers or as a shrubby bank cover. Low growth and bright crimson bracts.
'Temple Fire'
Shrub-like growth to 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Plant is partially deciduous, bracts are bronzey-red.
'La Jolla'
Bright red bracts and a compact habit, shrubby; makes a good shrub or container plant.
'Manila Red'
Magenta-red bracts in many rows.
'Oo-La-La'
Dwarf (1.5 feet tall, 6-8 feet wide) variety with magenta-red bracts over a long season. Great ground cover or hanging basket plant.
'Raspberry Ice'
Shrubby and mounding habit, good for hanging baskets. Red bracts and leaves edged in yellow that are tinged red when young.
'San Diego Red'
Large, deep green foliage that is frost-resistant; deep red bracts over a long season. Vigorous and high-climbing, can be trained into a tree form.
Purple-Bract Bougainvillea
These are considered the classic or old-fashioned, and come in many different sizes, shapes and habits.
'Don Mario'
Large, vigorous grower with showy clusters of purple-red bracts.
'Purple Queen'
Compact variety with deep purple bracts. Needs support for long (up to 15 feet tall) vines.
'Tahitian Dawn'
​Large plant with gold bracts that age to rosy purple.
'Vera Deep Purple'
Neon-pink flowers on a thornless dwarf plant (2 feet tall and wide). Perfect for indoor containers.
Bougainvillea spectabilis
'Lavender Queen'
Large purple bracts; heavy bloomer even in cooler summers. Hardy and vigorous grower. Great choice for zones 16 and 17.

Caring for Bougainvillea

The first step in taking great care of your Bougainvillea is to planting it in the right spot. If you are in an area that gets frost, you should plant your Bougainvillea in early spring after the last frost has passed. Ensure that your plant has structure to climb (if it needs it) and tie stems to the support structure while its own basic structure is developing. Once established, you can remove the ties. Ensure that your Bougainvillea vine is planted in a spot that receives full sun; between 6 and 8 hours each day is optimal for the best flowering and bract coloring. They require very well-draining soil and dislike having wet feet. If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature. New plants should be watered somewhat regularly, receiving irrigation when the top inch or two of soil dries out. Mature plants are very drought-tolerant and prefer soil to be on the dry side. A good tip is to wait to water your Bougainvillea vine until the leaves start to look a little dehydrated.

Pruning Bougainvillea should be done after flowering has ended in frost-free regions, or as early in spring as possible after frosts have passed. During the growing season, only prune to direct growth. Make sure to wear puncture-proof gloves to protect yourself from thorns. Without support and pruning, Bougainvillea will become a sprawling shrub, and is good for groundcovers or hanging basket plants (depending on the size of the species or varietal grown). In cold weather, these vines may need some extra protection; growing Bougainvillea in pots allows for bringing them into a more sheltered spot over the winter months. Alternatively, frost cloths and other protective efforts can be carried out for younger plants that cannot be moved. Even if Bougainvillea plants lose all of their leaves and die back to the ground in wintertime, they can still regrow and flower in the next year.

Propagation

Bougainvillea vines can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Paper Flower vine, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Bougainvillea by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Bougainvillea by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Bougainvillea vines are pretty easy to spot, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Bougainvillea seed pods will form where the small white flowers once were.
Bougainvillea seeds are very small, and are roundish or bean-shaped.

Problems and Pests

Bougainvilleas are relatively pest and disease free plants, though they can suffer from the following from time to time:
  • Aphids
  • Caterpillars
  • Leafminers
  • Scale Insects
  • Snails and Slugs
  • Spider Mites
  • Thrips
  • Whitefly
  • Leaf Spot
  • Root Rot
For more information on these issues, including how to deal with them, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Bougainvillea vining plants can create grand entrances.
These vines can be grown in the ground or in containers.
Groundcover type Bougainvilleas help to stabilize soil and add color to sloped areas.
Bougainvillea can be shaped into many different forms, including shrubs.
Here, a Bougainvillea vine is used to cover a bare privacy wall.
Bougainvillea plants are at home in many landscape designs, including tropical.
These plants can be trimmed into shrubby hedges and used for privacy screening.
Bougainvillea vines are at home in Mediterranean-style gardens.
Instead of using climbing Roses on fences, consider using low-water use Bougainvillea.

Videos

All about growing Bougainvillea in containers.
Learn about these gorgeous vines.
Learn the basics about growing Bougainvillea.
A quick video on training Bougainvillea vines.

Resources

Bougainvillea Pests and Diseases
Your Complete Bougainvillea Care Guide
Bougainvillea: How to Grow and Care with Success
Wikipedia: Bougainvillea
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 200 - 201, Bougainvillea 
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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