Bougainvillea wants full sun, deep but infrequent watering and protection from frost, which is why it is often grown in a pot in cold-winter areas. UF/IFAS says bougainvilleas require full sun and perform better when the soil is left a little dry. NC State calls the plant frost sensitive and says it is often grown as an annual or as a container plant. The color that attracts the eye is not the flower: NC State says the colorful parts are bracts, or modified leaves, in shades of pink, purple and red, and the actual flower is small and insignificant.
- Sun
- Full sun; full sun encourages flowering
- Origin
- The Americas
- Water
- Deeply, then let dry between waterings
- Frost
- Sensitive; protect from frost and freeze
- Soil
- Well-drained, acidic
- Bloom time
- Most of the year, plentiful in winter (UF/IFAS)
- Propagate
- Stem cuttings
Sun and soil
UF/IFAS says bougainvilleas require full sun, and NC State says full sun will encourage flowering. NC State’s full description for Bougainvillea glabra is that it grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained, acidic soil, and that chlorosis, a yellowing of the leaves, can be a problem in alkaline soil.
Water
NC State says bougainvillea should be watered deeply but allowed to dry out between waterings, and that once established it is drought resistant. UF/IFAS agrees from a different angle: plants perform better when their soil is left a little dry.
Frost and growing in pots
NC State says bougainvillea is frost sensitive so it is often grown as an annual or as a container plant. UF/IFAS says it needs to be protected from frost and freeze. For the container route, UF/IFAS suggests dwarf varieties, which can be planted on top of a wall or in hanging baskets, where they create cascades of color.
Pruning
The sources give two timings. NC State says to prune immediately after flowering to maintain a desired shape. UF/IFAS says the best time to prune is late winter or early spring after it flowers, or at the start of the rainy season. UF/IFAS also notes that smaller cuttings from pruning can be used to propagate new plants.
See our bougainvillea pruning guide for the full timing comparison.
| Variety | Best for | Habit | Bract color | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bougainvillea glabra | The species NC State profiles | — | Pink, purple and red shades (NC State) | Colorful bracts around small flowers |
| Dwarf varieties | Walls and hanging baskets | Compact | By cultivar | Named by UF/IFAS for cascades of color |
UF/IFAS lists the colors available across cultivars as fuchsia, red, white, yellow and orange.
Bloom time
UF/IFAS says the bracts appear periodically throughout most of the year and are especially plentiful in the winter. NC State lists spring and summer as the bloom time.
Propagation
NC State lists seed and stem cutting as propagation methods, and UF/IFAS says smaller cuttings can be used to propagate new plants. Stem cuttings are the route for copying a plant whose color you like.
Grow these next
For another flowering vine that does well in a container, see mandevilla. Hibiscus is another sun-loving flowering plant for pots, and the tropical flowers collection shows how the rest compare on frost and zone.
Frequently asked questions
How much sun does bougainvillea need?
UF/IFAS says bougainvilleas require full sun. NC State says it grows best in full sun or partial shade and that full sun will encourage flowering.
How often should I water bougainvillea?
NC State says it should be watered deeply but allowed to dry out between waterings, and that once established it is drought resistant. UF/IFAS says plants perform better when their soil is left a little dry.
When should I prune bougainvillea?
The sources differ slightly. NC State says to prune immediately after flowering to maintain a desired shape. UF/IFAS says the best time is late winter or early spring after it flowers, or at the start of the rainy season.
Can bougainvillea survive frost?
No. NC State says it is frost sensitive, so it is often grown as an annual or as a container plant. UF/IFAS says it needs to be protected from frost and freeze.
What are the colorful parts of a bougainvillea?
NC State says the colorful parts are bracts, which are modified leaves, in shades of pink, purple and red. The actual flower is small and insignificant.
Sources
- Bougainvillea glabra, NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Bougainvillea, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
Mandevilla
Hibiscus
Heliconia