Plant Spotlight: Bougainvillea
There is not a single plant I get stopped and questioned about more than our bougainvilleas. They are a flowering vine with free-flowing growth and beautiful color. Whether they’re in a small hanging basket or have grown large enough to form hedges in your yard, this plant shines almost anywhere!
As beautiful as they are, bougainvillea’s reputation as a thorny, fast-growing bush with extensive maintenance requirements has hurt its popularity. I’m here to show off a few pictures and give quick tips to make sure you know what you’re getting into when you decide to pick one up.
Bougainvillea's Beautiful "Flowers"
If a bougainvillea has caught your eye before, you might be wondering why the flowers take such a unique shape, texture, and growth pattern. That’s because the colors you and I are drawn to aren’t actually flowers at all. Bougainvillea do produce a flower (a small, white one), but the purples and oranges pictured are actually a modified form of a leaf, called a “bract”. See a close-up of the real flowers, pictured left.
Shaping and Pruning Your Bougainvillea Vine
Different bougainvillea growers will change the final product, but nothing would do so more than your own trimming and maintenance. This is where most gardeners throw in the towel, as bougainvillea thorns are notoriously large when not properly shaped over many years. New shoots tend to grow out thornier because the vines are attempting to hook onto structures as they grow towards the sunlight. The best way to avoid dealing with overgrowth and thorns is to shape on a more regular basis. I always suggest careful, regular pruning after a blooming period. This promotes branching which will make your plant fuller.
Care-Requirements & Fertilization
Sunlight: All bougainvilleas prefer the full-sun (6 hours is enough, but 8 or more is optimal). You’ll get more flowers and colorful bracts, and an increase in growth-rate. Full-sun also is great for plants who prefer their soil to dry out, which leads us to watering habits!
Watering: Bougainvilleas need to let water drain. This is easy in a hanging-basket with potting soil, but more difficult in-ground. Mound your soil high to help water runoff and only water periodically. I like to wait just until I notice leaves started to look dehydrated.
Fertilization: Fertilize your bougainvilleas once in the early spring just before blooming begins. You can fertilize again mid-summer at the height of the blooming period. I suggest pairing your fertilizing schedule with your pruning schedule for best results! (Learn more about how to fertilize plants)
For the cold-season, proper mulching will keep your bougainvillea healthy, before shooting back to life in the spring. Overall, bougainvilleas are a beautiful, not-so-difficult vine that will be a statement in your landscape or patio!
