\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Some suggest that the best growing mixture is a soil-less mix since these are free of weed seeds, disease pathogens and insect eggs. All species of bougainvillea are thorny shrubs in the Nyctaginaceae, the (four o'clock) family of plants. in my country, the Philippines, started my collection. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Of the many species of bougainvillea in nature, only three have been widely cultivated. Just be sure to remember that USDA zone info for Zone 6b is just an average and the actual date of last frost can change quite a bit from year to year. To grow bougainvillea, plant it in full sun, slightly acidic and well-drained soil, and a relatively hot and dry climate. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Bougainvillea is a tropical, shrub-like vine that bursts forth with colorful flowers for 11 months of the year if it's planted in the right climate. Although bougainvillea vines tolerate many types of soil, they prefer loamy soil that contains clay, sand, and silt in equal parts. Everything we love about a bougainvillea-the flowers, the color, the long season of bloom. Zones: 10-11 Heavy soil or any soil that holds water won't do. Most varieties of bougainvillea grow 20 to 30 feet tall and wide with support. Leaves generally turn brown or black from frost burn, eventually falling from the plants. Bougainvillea is a sun-lover and it will grow best in a full sun position, in the open, facing due North (in the southern hemisphere) and due South (in the northern hemisphere). For example, you'll see these heat-loving shrubs in many Mexican cities. If the roots survive, the plant will eventually grow new leaves if protected from subsequent frosts. What We'll Cover Here Plus, it should drain fast: these plants dont like to say wet for long. What many people think of as the blooms of bougainvillea aren't actually blooms at all. Bloom Time: Summer to nearly year-round in frost-free zones Growing bougainvillea in gardens requires some effort, but many think that these tropical and subtropical woody vines are worth it. Suitable hardiness means a plant can be expected to grow in the zones temperature extremes, as determined by the lowest average annual temperature. Bougainvillea is a vibrant climbing vine that grows up trellises or other supports. Sign up for our newsletter. * Required FieldsWe will never sell or distribute your email to any other parties or organizations. Need a bright and fast climber for a trellis or structure? Bougainvillea do best when night temperatures don't drop below 60F (16C) and daytime temperatures don't exceed 100F (38C). At this point, it may be best to replace the plants and start over. This tropical native needs some room to grow. Up to 2 tall, 4 wide. You need to stick your finger into the soil up to the knuckle. But this colorful climbing shrub has lots of surprising (and even amazing) characteristics. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 and reaches heights of 20 to 30 feet. The thorns on some types are hook-shaped and will assist in securing the plant to chain link or other fencing or structures. The last month that you can plant bougainvillea and expect a good harvest is probably August. Place these woody vines in a site with full sun and well-draining soil. 15 of the Best Flowering Vines for Fences, Arbors, and Trellises, 14 Perennial Flowering Vines to Take Your Garden to New Heights, 15 Container Garden Plants That Breeze Through Summer's Heat, Fall Bloom, Reblooming, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom, Attracts Birds, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance. Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, semi-dwarf variety If your plants are getting out of hand, pruning and maintenance are best done in the fall before a new growth cycle. The bracts are large, crinkled ovals in brilliant shades of rose and purple. Plants will go dormant in colder weather and should be watered sparingly. Digging up the plant will stress out the bougainvillea, so it might be best to containerize. There are dwarf varieties which will generally grow to be 3-6 feet tall and wide. Probably not a good time to plant bougainvillea The earliest that you can plant bougainvillea in Zone 6b is April . Zones: 10-11 I'm very glad to know I need to wear gloves. Plus, under optimal conditions, they grow fast and show color all year round. Winterizing a bougainvillea also includes watering practices and suspension of fertilizer. It pairs well with blues and bright pinks or can be used as a stand-alone specimen in planters. Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst' is an especially popular variety with large clusters of red bracts all summer and autumn. You can stop watering them except during periods of drought. In the wild, this creeper shrub prefers acidic soil and a very bright, sunny location. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Festive seasonal color in pots or long-term groundcover. However, established plants will tolerate light frosts. Container plants can accumulate salts from fertilizer, so it is wise to flush the container a few days after feeding the plant to prevent root burn. Zones: 9-11, Bougainvillea 'California Gold' is one of the best-performing yellow-flowering bougainvillea varieties. This 20 to 30 foot vine produces clusters of fiery orange blooms all summer setting the landscape alive with color. It flourishes with minimal water and high temperatures. The USDA Zone info is a great tool for gardeners to help us estimate your gardening schedule. Hopefully, I will get favorable results this summer. Get plant information, gardening solutions, design inspiration and more in our weekly newsletter. Bougainvillea blooms come in purple, red, orange, white, pink and yellow. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In its warmest zones, it may seem evergreen and can bloom most of the year. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Temperature counts too in bougainvillea growing conditions. The true flowers on bougainvillea are quite small, usually white, and are surrounded by colorful bracts. Some species can tolerate lower temperatures. Bloom Color: White Bougainvillea are not cold tolerant which tells us that it is necessary to wait until it warms up after the last frost has passed before you can plant them. Photo by: Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo. It reaches heights of 2 to 3 feet with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. To grow bougainvillea, plant it in well-draining soil in a sunny outdoor spot. Typically, this plant grows in zones 6 to 9. Part of the care for bougainvillea plants over winter is to keep them a touch on the dry side. Keep your eye out for dead wood and remove it as it appears. Use strong ties to allow them to grow up to walls: these plants dont have tendrils to attach to surfaces on their own. It can cover entire slopes, and it's tough enough to choke out weeds. The Common Diseases Found in Bougainvillea, The Best Time to Transplant a Mature Bougainvillea, University of Florida IFAS: Bougainvillea, Clemson Cooperative Extention: Bougainvillea, North Carolina State Extension: Bougainvillea, Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests, Difference Between Mandevilla & Bougainvillea. It prefers full sun and acidic, well-drained soil. Bougainvillea is native to Central America, most of South America, the Caribbean Islands, Spain, parts of the United States, and many other warm climates. Stay away from a medium with high peat content since it retains water and may rot the plant. To brighten a partially shaded area of your landscape, Sunvillea Cream may be just the answer. Each of the three species has slightly different features and degrees of hardiness. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Their vines can grow up to 40 feet tall with support. The Helen Johnson bougainvillea reaches heights of 3 feet and produces a profusion of coppery bracts that mature to bright pink blooms with purple undertones. Height/Spread: Can climb to 20 to 30 feet if supported Good bougainvillea winter care can ensure a healthy plant that will produce copious quantities of brightly colored flower bracts. Find Out Today, Can An Avocado Tree Grow In A Pot (yes + How To). After studying botany and microbiology at Clemson University, Blackstone was a University of Georgia Master Gardener Coordinator. Bougainvillea shrubs have delicate, fibrous root systems, so be careful not to damage the roots when planting. TALL (UP TO 30 FT. While they can stand on their own as upright shrubs, they will climb up any available support, including trees,. And if you grow your plant in a container, remove the drainage dish and let the excess water flow freely from the pot. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Bloom Color: Reddish-purple. Bougainvillea glabra also flower almost continuously up and down the length of the branches, but the flowers are slightly different. This sun-loving plant produces waxy flowers in the spring and the fall in zones 9 to 11. It climbs to 30 feet. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you're thinking of planting a bougainvillea in your garden, be sure to allow plenty of room for it to spread and grow; some varieties reach 40 feet. Gardeners know that tracking a cultivated plant's history can help you determine its ideal growing conditions, because, in nature, plants grow where they can thrive, rather than in a spot chosen by a gardener. After this cycle is over, you can promote new growth and a period of repeat bloom by pruning or pinching your plant. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones), Why is My Phlox Not Flowering? Because they have sharp thorns, locate them several feet away from a walkway or other area of activity. Photo by: Gurcharan Singh / Shutterstock. Bougainvillea'Moneth' or Purple Queen Zones:10-11 Height/Spread:Up to 15 feet tall if supported; 1-1/2 feet tall and 8 feet wide as groundcover Exposure:Full sun Bloom Time:Summer to nearly year-round in frost-free zones Bloom Color:Purple bracts with deep green foliage Photo by: Gurcharan Singh / Shutterstock. Normally, you'll see the best blooms following a dry winter. Check out our bougainvillea zone 6 selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I kept it in the pot and placed it facing south. In Zone 6b the average date of last frost happens on April 15. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The bracts surround the actual flowers that are tiny and white. But this doesn't mean. Bougainvillea is hardy to USDA zones 9 to 11. In warm regions, bougainvillea blooms almost year-round and thrives outdoors. These bracts hide the actual flowers inside, which are small and trumpet-shaped in whites and yellows. If you're planting the bougainvillea in a pot, choose a soil mix with the appropriate pH level. In warm regions, this plant will delight with blooms all year round. Even those in zone 9 should come indoors for the bulk of the winter unless they are in a protected location or warmer microclimate of the landscape. I now feel I can give it a good, "The flowers on our bougainvillea plants kept dying and falling off. You may also choose to simply top dress the container with well-rotted manure or compost. Situate the containers in a cool area but one that doesnt freeze. Give your bougainvillea a fertilizer thats specifically formulated for bougainvilleas, which will include micronutrients, such as iron, to promote plant health. Plant bougainvillea in the garden in spring or summer, which gives the plant time to develop a strong root system before cool weather. I gained a better understanding about the plant. If a range of zones, for example, zones 4-9, is indicated, the tree or perennial is known to be hardy in zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The tiny flowers appear up and down the branches almost year-round. If you wait any later than that and your bougainvillea may not have a chance to grow to maturity. Decrease watering frequency in the winter and do not fertilize your plants. 12. If it works out, I may add many more, since my chickens don't seem to bother them. Hummingbirds and butterflies will flock to the flowers whenever you look out your window to watch them.