Bougainvillea Flower Information

Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea, a French navigator, discovered this lovely plant in 1768 after he traveled to South America, the bougainvillea's native region. Although bougainvillea are only hardy in the warmer climates characteristic of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, gardeners in cooler regions can still enjoy their beauty by growing them as annuals or in containers brought indoors during the winter. Bougainvillea naturally climbs, making it well suited for growing near walls or on a trellis. Gardeners can also train it to grow as a hedge or shrubby potted plant.

The colorful blooms on bougainvillea aren't flowers at all. Rather, they are the plant's bracts, a type of modified leaf that's typically small and located just below a plant's flower. Bougainvillea’s flowers are the tiny, creamy-white structures located in the middle of the bract. These tropical and subtropical evergreens grow sturdy, woody, thorny vines that typically require support from a nearby wall or trellis.

Bougainvillea bloom in a rainbow of colors, ranging from brilliant white to deep magenta. Barbara Karst (Bougainvillea "Barbara Karst") adds vibrant fuchsia to the garden, while Cherry Blossom (Bougainvilla "Cherry Blossom") blooms with delicate light pink and rose-colored bracts. Both are hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11.

Attractive foliage adorns some cultivars, including Delta Dawn (Bougainvillea "Delta Dawn"), hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11. In addition to its variegated green and white foliage, this drought-tolerant cultivar also has sunny gold-colored blooms. Similarly, the bright purple bracts that bloom on Golden Jackpot (Bougainvillea "MonSam"), hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, contrast vividly with its bright green-yellow and green leaves.

Gardeners can easily propagate bougainvillea from 4- to 6-inch cuttings potted in soilless potting mix. Although the plants can grow and become full and leafy in shady spots, planting bougainvillea in a spot that receives more than five hours of full sunlight per day yields the nicest blooms. Maintain even moisture, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Bougainvillea generally needs 1 inch of water weekly. It grows in nearly any type of soil, as long as it's well-drained.

Fertilize bougainvillea with a balanced slow-release fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula in spring and fall for the plant's first three growing seasons, followed by one annual application thereafter to avoid overfertilizing the plants -- which results in many leaves and few blooms.

Bougainvillea resists most pests and diseases, although gardeners should keep an eye out for any spots on the leaves, which may indicate a fungal or bacterial disease. Aphids, tiny pests with long antennae and pear-shaped torsos, occasionally attack bougainvillea's foliage. A strong spray of water or application of pesticide can treat the problem.

Prune the plant after it finishes blooming to avoid inadvertently diminishing its blooms, which occur on the plant's new growth. Remove any dead or damaged limbs in spring or anytime during the growing season.