About
This is a compact, bushy shrub reaching heights of up to 60 cm. During the summer, it produces flowers characterized by papery, petal-like bracts in a deep purple hue. It thrives best in a temperate glasshouse or conservatory, though potted specimens can be placed outdoors during the warmer months.
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
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical, Houseplants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in pots of peat-free, loam-based compost. Bougainvilleas need a bright position but protect them from direct summer sun. Plants can be moved outside for summer. Increase watering from spring as the plants start back into active growth and apply a balanced liquid feed until the bracts show colour, then switch to a high potassium feed. Decrease watering and cease feeding in autumn. Maintain a minimum night temperature of 10°C. See bougainvillea cultivation for further information
- Pruning
- See pruning group 12
- Propagation
- Propagate by layering in early spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings with bottom heat in winter
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs, aphids and glasshouse whitefly
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free