Bougainvillea spectabilis, also known as “great bougainvillae,” is a fast-growing hedge of colourful beauty.
Did you know that the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville discovered this bright plant, now called the Bougainvillea, during his voyages in South America in 1768?
In tropical climates, Bougainvillea cultivars can make a splash with their beautiful, bright colours almost year-round. However, in most climates, they flower during spring and autumn. Many Bougainvillea plants with vibrant-coloured flowers are available today.
At Cape Contours Landscape Design, we often include them in our garden designs. They are especially useful for screening a wall or adding a burst of colour to a window view. Their bright, bold appearance makes them a hugely popular ornamental plant.
What different Bougainvillea flower colours are available?
One of the main reasons people plant Bougainvillea is for its stunning, vibrant-coloured flowers. This climbing plant comes in a wide variety of colours, including white, pale orange, yellow, various shades of pink, deep magenta, purple, and blue. You can even graft different colours onto a single plant, creating stunning multicoloured flowers.
Furthermore, it’s not only the flowers that differ in colour but also the Bougainvillea’s leaves. Some cultivars have variegated leaves, meaning they display multiple colours. These leaves contain different pigments in addition to the green pigment chlorophyll.
Are Bougainvillea flowers real flowers?
Interestingly, the brightly coloured ‘petals’ are not petals at all but bracts – modified leaves that surround the small, white-tipped flower inside. These bracts are what caught Louis Antoine’s attention, leading him to bring this drought-tolerant plant back to Europe. Today, there are more than 300 different coloured varieties available!
Growing Bougainvillea plants
The upcoming sections of this blog will guide you through growing these cheerful climbing Bougainvillea plants.
Bougainvillea Seedlings and Propagation
If you’re starting from scratch, Bougainvillea seedlings can be grown from seeds, but they require patience as they take time to establish. Seed-grown Bougainvillea may also have variations in colour and growth habits compared to the parent plant.
Many gardeners prefer propagating Bougainvillea from cuttings for a faster and more reliable method. Simply take a semi-hardwood cutting of about 15cm, remove the lower leaves, and dip the cut end into rooting hormone before planting it in well-draining soil. Keep the soil slightly moist and place the cutting in a warm, sunny spot to encourage root development. With the right conditions, new roots should appear within a few weeks, giving you a strong and healthy plant ready to thrive in your garden.
Which area is best for Bougainvillea plants?
Bougainvilleas thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. However, they also grow well in the Western Cape, a winter rainfall region. Unfortunately, they might not survive in very cold, frost-prone gardens. Bougainvilleas prefer full sun, so avoid planting them in shady areas.
Can you grow your Bougainvillea plant in a pot?
Absolutely! Bougainvilleas grow well in pots. When planting in a pot, add a simple V-shaped trellis for support. A potted Bougainvillea can bring splashes of colour to areas with extensive paving or limited garden space.
Can you use a Bougainvillea plant as a hedge?
Yes! Thanks to their sharp thorns, Bougainvilleas make excellent security hedges. However, they require time, regular pruning, and shaping to form a proper hedge. Once shaped, they need only occasional maintenance pruning.
What kind of plant is the Bougainvillea?
Bougainvillea is a thorny climbing plant that requires cables, a trellis, or a pergola for support. These woody vines hook onto their branches to create additional stability. Bougainvillea grows quickly, and its upper sections can become quite heavy if they outgrow their support trellis. Heavily pruning the plant after the colourful bracts have dropped is often necessary.
When is the best time to prune your Bougainvillea?
In South Africa, the best time to prune Bougainvillea is late winter. As mentioned earlier, prune and shape only after the flowers have dropped. Cut away approximately two-thirds of the branch length, and remove all water shoots from the plant’s base. Bougainvillea grows fast, and without regular pruning, it can quickly become untidy. Be careful when pruning, as the thorns can cause nasty injuries!
What to do with fallen Bougainvillea bracts?
When they dry and fade into softer colours, the fallen bracts are beautiful. These delicate bracts make excellent additions to potpourri or can even be used as natural wedding confetti.
You can also add fallen bracts and leaves to your compost bin. Making your own compost saves money and offers numerous environmental benefits. We’ve written a detailed blog on home composting, including a link to the Western Cape government’s free compost bin initiative for Capetonians.
Is it difficult to grow a Bougainvillea plant?
Not at all! Bougainvillea is relatively easy to grow, though they may stubbornly refuse to flower when first brought home from a nursery. Ensure you plant yours in well-draining soil and full sun.
How do you make your Bougainvillea plant flower more?
The key is not to overwater! Overwatering encourages excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowering.
Bougainvilleas also prefer crowded roots. Many gardeners leave them in their nursery pots and cut holes in the sides and bottom to allow the roots to spread gradually. This technique is said to encourage more flowering. Fertilise every few weeks to promote healthy growth.
Finally, watch for pests and diseases. Common problems include aphids, scale, mealybugs, and root rot.
Once your Bougainvillea has stopped producing its cheerfully coloured flowers, it is time for pruning. In fact, pruning them back hard after flowering will encourage new growth and flowering. Remove any suckers that have sprouted from the base of the plant during pruning to eliminate competition for nutrients. You can fertilise them in summer at the same time as the rest of the garden, on a 6-weekly basis.
Bougainvillea cultivars available in South Africa
Many beautiful cultivars are available here in the Cape at our retail and wholesale plant nurseries. What are some of the Bougainvillea cultivars you can find in South Africa? We have listed a few different ones below.
- ‘Bougainvillea ‘Brilliance’
- ‘Crimson Jewel’
- ‘Dauphine’
- ‘David Lemmer’
- ‘Golden McLean’
- ‘Lilac Queen’
- ‘Magnifica’
- ‘Red Glory’
- ‘Rubyana’
- ‘Temple Fire’
- ‘Vera Blakeman’
Bougainvillaea is a must-have plant for any garden with its fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and vibrant nature. Whether you grow it as a hedge, a potted plant, or a climbing vine, it will reward you with year-round colour and beauty.
HAPPY GARDENING!
Sources:
Home Guides | E-Gardens | Pinterest | Orams Nurseries | Gardenia
