The Bougainvillea (Assorted) is a truly iconic, tough, and vibrant plant, a classic sight in hot Australian gardens. This fast-growing, evergreen vine is a real workhorse, prized for its spectacular, paper-like “flowers,” which are actually modified leaves called bracts. The “assorted” variety ensures a mix of colours, which can range from fiery reds and oranges to brilliant pinks, purples, and whites, providing a dazzling display for most of the year. The plant has a scrambling, woody nature and generally features sharp, protective spines along its stems.
Caring for Your Bougainvillea
- Growing Conditions: Bougainvillea absolutely loves the heat and sun. It thrives in a spot with full, all-day sun—the more sun it gets, the better it will flower. It needs well-draining, average soil. It’s best suited to warm, frost-free climates.
- Watering: This plant is very drought-tolerant once established. It actually prefers to be slightly stressed; consistent overwatering can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
- Feeding: To encourage flowering, use a fertiliser low in nitrogen and higher in potassium and phosphorus, especially during the flowering season. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which will promote leafy growth only.
- Pruning: Prune heavily after a main flush of flowers to maintain shape and encourage new blooms. A hard prune in late winter or early spring will encourage a mass of new growth and a spectacular flowering show in the warmer months.
Usage in the Garden
Bougainvillea is incredibly versatile, though it needs sturdy support. It’s perfect for covering fences, pergolas, arbours, or unsightly structures. It can be trained as a large climber, or smaller varieties can be kept pruned as hedging or feature shrubs. It also looks sensational in a large pot or hanging basket, where its colourful bracts can cascade over the sides.
