About
This evergreen climber is sensitive to frost and features ovate foliage. During the summer months, it produces clusters of small white flowers, which are framed by papery bracts that range in color from rose-pink to soft orange.
About the genus
Bougainvillea consists of climbing evergreen shrubs that may have thorns. They feature simple, oval-shaped leaves and bear clusters of small tubular flowers, each surrounded by three vibrant, oval bracts.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light; water freely in summer and keep just moist in winter. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. If container grown can be put outside in summer. Water sparingly in winter. May survive short spells down to 0°C if kept fairly dry, but preferred minimum temperature is 7-10°C. See bougainvillea cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 12 in early spring/after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer or softwood cuttings in early spring. Layering can be done in early autumn or spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, mealybugs, aphids and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free