Bougainvillea

Sun

Full sun; aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for good flowering.

Water

Water deeply, then let the soil partly dry before watering again. Established plants tolerate drought, but containers need regular checks during hot weather; keep plants much drier in winter.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; avoid waterlogged ground. In containers, use a free-draining potting mix and a pot with unobstructed drainage holes.

Height

15-30 ft (4.5-9 m) with support; smaller when container-grown and pruned

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6 m) when trained out

Flowers

Repeated flushes from spring to autumn, potentially throughout the year in tropical climates. The species usually has magenta-purple bracts around tiny cream-white flowers; named selections offer other bract colours.

Foliage

Green, oval to pointed leaves, usually smooth or only sparsely hairy. Evergreen in warm conditions, but may shed leaves during drought, cold weather or winter rest.

Growth

Fast in warm weather once established

Care needed

Medium

• Plant after frost risk has passed, handling the root ball gently because damaged roots establish poorly.
• Provide strong wires or a sturdy trellis and tie shoots loosely; this plant has no tendrils and needs training.
• Water thoroughly and allow partial drying between waterings; never leave a container standing in water.
• Feed container plants during active growth with a flowering-plant fertiliser at the label rate; avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth.
• Move containers into bright, frost-free shelter before cold weather and reduce watering while growth is slow.
• Wear thick gloves and keep thorny stems away from paths, doorways and children's play areas.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, once frost risk has passed, remove dead growth and shorten overlong shoots to a useful framework. Lightly trim after a flowering flush to encourage branching, but avoid repeated hard clipping that removes developing flowers.

Late winter

Check sheltered plants for pests and remove dead stems; delay outdoor pruning where frost remains possible.

Spring

Prune and train the framework after frost risk has passed, then gradually acclimatise overwintered containers to outdoor sun.

Late spring

Plant into warm, well-drained soil or repot only if necessary, disturbing the roots as little as possible.

Summer

Check container moisture frequently, feed during active growth and tie in long new shoots.

Late summer

Lightly trim after flowering and take semi-ripe cuttings if you want additional plants.

Autumn

Reduce feeding and move containers under bright, frost-free cover before cold nights.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants on the dry side without letting the root ball become completely desiccated.

• Train over a strong pergola to create a colourful overhead canopy in a warm, sunny courtyard.
• Spread against a sunny masonry wall, using wires to display the bracts against a plain background.
• Grow in a large container beside a sheltered terrace, with space to move it indoors for winter.
• Combine with agaves, aloes and gravel for contrasting leaf shapes in a frost-free, dry-climate garden.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern Mediterranean, Modern courtyard, Tropical, Spanish courtyard and Desert / xeriscape.

Plant it with: Agave, Aloe, Lavender, Rosemary, Lantana and Society garlic.

Wildlife: The small flowers can attract butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects in warm climates. Dense growth offers bird shelter, but it is not a substitute for locally native habitat plants.

• Few bracts: increase direct sunlight, reduce nitrogen feeding and stop frequent clipping; allow partial drying between waterings without prolonged wilting.
• Yellowing leaves and root rot: improve drainage, empty saucers and reduce watering, especially in cool weather.
• Aphids, scale insects or mealybugs: inspect stems and leaf undersides, remove small infestations by hand and use a labelled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil where appropriate.
• Leaf drop after moving or during cold weather: provide stable warmth and bright light, protect from frost and avoid compensating with extra water.

Not known to be seriously poisonous to cats, dogs, horses or people. Sap from damaged leaves and stems can irritate skin, and chewing plant material may cause mouth irritation or mild stomach upset. Sharp thorns are the main hazard; punctures can become inflamed or infected.

Where it spreads. Naturalised in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, and can become a local environmental weed in warm areas. Dumped stems may root and form thorny growth; dispose of prunings responsibly and check local guidance before planting near bushland.

• Great bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis)

  Usually has noticeably hairy leaves and young stems, whereas Bougainvillea glabra is mostly smooth. Garden hybrids can blur this distinction.

• Hybrid bougainvillea (Bougainvillea × buttiana)

  Often sold in a wide range of bract colours and overlapping leaf forms. Appearance alone may not reliably separate hybrids from B. glabra; a trustworthy nursery label is more useful than colour.

Bougainvillea honours the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, while glabra means smooth or hairless, referring to the plant's relatively hairless foliage.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a free-draining medium with warmth and humidity. Rooting can be slow or uneven; layering a flexible stem is another option.

Accepted botanical name

Bougainvillea glabra

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Brazil Northeast, Brazil South and Brazil Southeast.

Measured

Average height 1250 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.