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Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea (boo-gun-VEEL-ee-uh)

Family: Nyctaginaceae Unknown Vine (vertical)

Bougainvillea is a genus of 18 flowering plants, native to South America, and in the Nyctaginaceae (four-o’clock) family. They are woody vines with a scrambling habit. Plant them in full sun in sandy or loamy acidic soils with good drainage. They are tolerant of drought, heat, and salt. Traditionally planted along trellises and fences, they can be trained to grow more shrub-like in containers. The plant is sterile and is propagated from stem cuttings. Blooming is on new growth. The actual flower is small, tubular, and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three to six brightly colored bracts, including pinks, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow colors. In cooler climates, they can be used as an annual or a houseplant in containers and hanging baskets but are most often seen growing indoors in a conservatory. Quick ID Hints: Stem is covered in long, thin thorns that often appear at the leaf axil Three small white flowers are surrounded by three to six brightly colored bracts Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids are occasional problems. Thorns are present. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 46 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Vine
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thin, simple elliptical to heart-shaped leaves with pointed tips and entire margins
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Tiny white tubular flowers in groups of three surrounded by bright colorful bracts. Bloom seasonally
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
The fruit is a narrow five-lobed achene.
Stem detail
Thorny scambling green stems. Older ones turn woody.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South America
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Hanging Baskets; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Security
Garden tags
#apvg-vg #apvg #bonsai #privacy #heat tolerant #vertical spaces #showy flowers #dry soils tolerant #drought tolerant #poolside planting #coastal plant #container plant #thorns #pink flowers #salt tolerant #hanging baskets #screen
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Spines/Thorns
Resistant to
Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Salt
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.