BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS
Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a woody climber from Brazil and its considered one of the most beautiful vines in the world. They like full sun. Some specimens can cover an entire house if not trimmed. Fortunately they can also be kept very small as a potted plant and by trimming.
During the summer, Bougainvillea can handle good watering as long as the drainage is good. During the winter it likes much less water. I would say enough to keep it from loosing its leaves.
Bougainvillea blooms on new growth, therefore the more new growth the plant has the more flowers it will produce. That can be achieved by trimming the plant during the summer a few times. Trimming will also induce bushiness.
The last good trim for a Bougainvillea should be done in late September and at that time a bloom booster fertilizer can be applied.
It blooms heavier during the short days of the year.
They can be trimmed as a vine, patio tree, large shrub or even as a bonsai.
This is a tropical plant. Frost will burn their flowers and should be avoided.

FAMILY: Nyctaginaceae
ORIGIN: Brazil
AVERAGE SIZE: varies by trimming
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS : full sun
WATER REQUIREMENTS : let dry before watering
MIN. TEMP.: 32°
FLOWER: fall,winter,spring