Bougainvillea sanderiana

Bougainvillas are fabuolous scrambling-climbing shrubs, well known for their long lasting blooms and their ease of cultivation in mediterranean to tropical countries. They are native to Central America. Their colourful blooms are composed by showy leaf-like bracts. Each group of bracts contain the small true flowers, creamy-white.

Bougainvillas can be grown in pots and kept small but in the ground they can also become tree-like giants. After decades trunks can grow to 10-40 cm in diameter!

Full sun is required for proper growth and blooming. Almost any soil is good, but of drainage and some organic matter will help. Flowering often happens after growth, or after a dry spell. In tropical countries blooming often happens in the hot, dry season and plants can be leafless with lots of bright colourful bracts. In warm countries they are often pruned every year or every other year, in order to ensure new tidy growth.