If you don’t have growing space or live in a suitable climate, you can plant bougainvillea in … However, it’s a big baby when it comes to the roots & doesn’t like to have them disturbed. It's extremely popular in warm, dry climates where it can be used in a wide variety of ways. Bougainvillea also trains well and accepts pruning happily. Bougainvillea might win the prize for the most frequently misspelled plant name. Although it is frost-sensitive and hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b and 10, bougainvillea can be used as a houseplant or hanging basket in cooler climates. The first bougainvillea to be identified (in 1798) was given the botanical name Bougainvillea spectabilis. Bougainvilleas can be trained as bonsai and make bold house or patio plants, which is one way gardeners in frosty, temperate regions can enjoy their fiery colours. Young, unestablished bougainvillea can be fatally damaged if roots break when the ground is disturbed. It certainly was an adventure in pruning! Planted near a wall or a trellis, bougainvillea can rapidly cover the surface in a burst of bright bracts. Of the many species of bougainvillea in nature, only three have been widely cultivated. In the wild, they opt for the soil and climate that make it easiest for them to develop and propagate. How to Grow Bougainvillea The first thing to consider once you have a spot to plant your bougainvillea is the size of the hole to place it in. Indigenous to South America, bougainvillea vines grow best in USDA planting zones 9-11. It also is beautiful growing over arbors, into espaliers, or in hanging baskets. The last month that you can plant bougainvillea and expect a good harvest is probably August.Any later than that and your bougainvillea may not have a chance to grow to maturity. This is my Bougainvillea glabra which grew up & over my garage in Santa Barbara. Perhaps the most popular use for bougainvillea is as a climbing plant. A professional writer and consummate gardener, Spengler has written about home and garden for Gardening Know How, San Francisco Chronicle, Gardening Guide and Go Banking Rates. When I was in Mexico and Puerto Rico, I learned why: They grow like weeds along the sides of the road with very little water and very poor soil. Bougainvillea is a hardy tropical vine that grows in areas where winter temperatures remain above 30 degrees F. (-1 C.). However, if your heart is set on bougainvillea, you can grow it in many areas as an annual, planting it in spring for one season only. If not killed then the plant will often go into a state of shock for many weeks, where it will not grow despite perfect conditions for doing so. If you live in colder areas, you will need to create a microclimate that has at least temperatures of zone 7. Possibly ok, but a risky time to plant bougainvillea, Probably not a good time to plant bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is often grown as an annual or container plant. The easiest way of Bougainvillea propagation methods is to grow it from cuttings and it can be done at any time of the year. Bougainvillea is a sun loving plant that will provide a pretty pop of colour against a back fence or garden shed. Bougainvillea thrives in places that are hot and relatively dry. When can you plant Bougainvillea in Nashville, TN. I’ve gotten numerous questions regarding Bougainvillea Winter Care and wanted to do a … Bougainvillea is a delightful, tropical flowering plant with vine-like branches that are easy to train to climb trellises. The easiest of bougainvillea propagation methods is to grow it from cuttings. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and need little watering, except if growing in pots. Creeping Fig ... Bougainvillea 'Torch Glow' If your landscape is in need of bursting year round color and a shrub that can display that … Bougainvillea, with their thorny, woody, tropical vines, produce beautiful clusters of red, pink, orange, white, yellow, purple, and magenta paper-like bracts. She earned a BA from U.C. Since bougainvillea is a tropical or semi-tropical plant, it really will not thrive in cooler regions and may not even survive a winter. The Minimum Temperature for Bougainvillea. Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and an MA and MFA from San Francisco State. The flowers are tiny, tubular and white, but they are protected by papery modified leaves called _bract_s that appear in a variety of spectacular colors, including scarlet, violet, royal purple and buttercup yellow. And fair enough to… I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences and lacerations in dealing with them, mainly in a past life as professional gardening contractor where I’ve been asked to tame yet another bougie gone wild. If you want to grow palm trees, you need to live in zone 7. Don't worry too much about the heat, since this shrub thrives in hot dry locations even in temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You may be interested in our other planting guides for Nashville. Chlorosis can be a problem in alkaline soil. Call to Order. It is a sturdy perennial with lovely paper like flowers. It can be shaped into hedges, upright bushes or as a "standard," a one-trunk, flowering tree. These vining shrubs require full sun and high light intensity to thrive and produce flowers. If you live in the right climate, few climbing plants are easier to grow than bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.). To take a cutting from your bougainvillea, look for softwood. Bougainvillea can tolerate hot, dry locations fairly well and flowers bountifully in full sun with regular watering. A rapid grower, the bright flowers of a bougainvillea are easy to get in any part of your garden. In the U.S., they thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and above, but they also can be grown in protected areas of hardiness zone 9. In fact, bougainvillea bloom better when the soil is fairly dry ,and you must let it dry out thoroughly between waterings. The last month that you can plant bougainvillea and expect a good harvest is probably August. COMPARE. Bougainvillea does best in containers for anyone cooler than USDA hardiness Zone 9, which is most of us. Fertilize when growing season begins and again in early summer; a 6-8-10 fertilizer high in micronutrients is best. Bougainvillea can take full sun & heat without skipping a beat. is a drought-tolerant plant that rarely needs to be pruned or fertilized. The versatility of this plant may surprise you. What Are the Blooms on a Bougainvillea Called? Bougainvillea shrubs are often multi-stemmed climbers, sending out slender arching canes armed with thorns. Simon, Eric, Brighten Up With Bougainvillea, 2005; Schoelhorn, Richard and Erin Alavrez, Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Bougainvillea, University of Florida /IFAS Extension, October 1, 2002. These evergreen climber plants hail from South America where the weather is toasty, so it's no surprise that bougainvillea does well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 10 and above. It's usually porous, allowing water to drain rapidly. Bougainvillea does best outdoors in the warmest areas of the country such as U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. In warm climates, a bougainvillea plant can be grown as a vine or groundcover, in cool areas it's a great container plant. Otherwise, keep them in containers and move to the garage, greenhouse, or even into the house near a sunny window. Bougainvillea must have well-drained soil, and it prefers acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.0. Bougainvillea will bloom a lot if exposed to heat and sunlight regularly. Bougainvillea are woody flowering shrubs that grow to 20 or 30 feet or more. However, bougainvillea is not as cold hardy as agapanthus but you can grow it in containers and move it inside in winters. Subscribe to Garden Tricks YouTube Channel How to grow bougainvillea from cuttings References. Bougainvillea is a very common plant in tropics. How to Propagate Bougainvillea Plants. It flourishes with minimal water and high temperatures. It has various species. Bougainvillea is a tropical plant and is best when the night temps are at least 65 and up and the days up into the 90's. The plant usually produces three rounds of vibrant blooms in spring, summer and autumn. From Alaska to California, from France's Basque Country to Mexico's Pacific Coast, Teo Spengler has dug the soil, planted seeds and helped trees, flowers and veggies thrive. It can grow on a wall or a trellis or it can be pruned to be a more compact patio or garden plant. If you choose to grow them as annuals, be aware doing this can be quite expensive. Bougainvillea is a tough plant, and that's not just in reference to its formidable thorns. But those same qualities make it useful as a ground cover in difficult-to-maintain parts of a property. The Bougainvillea is a hardy and versatile plant. The plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall and grow in clumps that spread about 2 to 4 inches every year. But cold is another story. Bougainvillea. Half of the time in Nashville we get surprised by a frost after April 15 so make sure that you are ready to cover your bougainvillea if we have one of those late frosts. Tall varieties can be tied up as a vine. For example, you'll see these heat-loving shrubs in many Mexican cities. Each of the three species has slightly different features and degrees of hardiness. As you can see, I don’t do much at all in the winter time. The actual flower is small and insignificant, it is the colorful bracts, or modified leaves, which can be seen in all shades of pink, purple, and red that attract attention. The genus was named after the French explorer and military commander, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, in 1736. Do not consider installing bougainvilleas in a shady corner of the backyard or even a low-light area. You can figure out when it's possible to plant bougainvillea in Nashville by checking out the USDA zone info. The plant usually produces three rounds of vibrant blooms in spring, summer and autumn. Trailing types (Crimson Jewel) are best for hanging baskets. But this colorful climbing shrub has lots of surprising (and even amazing) characteristics. However, homeowners often select a plant for a particular place based on ornamental factors. Santa Cruz, a law degree from U.C. Particular pruning can even shape the Bougainvillea like you would for a bonsai. Bougainvillea are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates, such as Florida and South Carolina, and across the Mediterranean Basin.. Jul 7, 2019 - Bougainvillea plant - How to grow Bougainvillea plant, growing Bougainvillea in your garden. It can be done at any time of the year. Bougainvillea can also be grown as an annual or as a houseplant outside those zones. Bougainvillea ‘Amethyst’ and Bougainvillea ‘Alexandra’ produce paler purple flowers, and in favourable locations will survive temperatures down to 2°C. Coneflower Coneflower Coneflower, also known as the purple coneflower, is a very versatile perennial plant. The mere mention of ‘bougainvillea’ can send many gardeners into an immediate state of panic. Since bougainvillea are not cold tolerant it's necessary to wait until after the last frost has passed before you can plant them. One of the best tools that we have as gardeners to help us estimate our gardening schedule is the USDA zone info. Some experts say these species vary between four and eighteen. Regular pruning may be necessary to shape the plant or direct its growth, it tolerates trimming well. The bracts are large, crinkled ovals in brilliant shades of rose and purple. The average date of last frost is April 15 in Nashville. It might get as low as 0°F during the coldest months of winter. Be careful when pruning to avoid injury from the 1 to 2 … The zone info helps tell us things like average date of last frost and lowest expected temperature for our area. A bougainvillea plant is native to the rain forests of Brazil, Peru, and southern Argentina. Stay away from a medium with high peat content since it retains water and may rot the plant. Some gardeners install bougainvillea in greenhouses. Look for dwarf varieties (La Jolla is a good one) for containers they spill nicely over the sides. Bougainvillea is a hardy tropical vine that grows in areas where winter temperatures remain above 30 degrees F. (-1 C.). The third cultivated bougainvillea species is Bougainvillea peruviana, noted for its green bark and yellow true flowers. Growing palm trees in Tennessee is very challenging. Heaviest bloom comes during the cooler months of spring and fall, when days and nights are nearly equal in length. The ideal low for this plant is 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 75 degrees during the day. Bougainvillea plants thrive in cultivation in climates and conditions that mimic their native environment. They grow at low elevations, but can be found thriving up to an elevation of 2,500 feet. View Details. Growing Palm Trees in Tennessee. If you're in a colder, wetter zone, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter. Propagation of Bougainvillea Cuttings. The earliest that you can plant bougainvillea in Nashville is April. Bougainvillea is not your typical houseplant—in its natural state, it's a sprawling climber and shrub with formidable thorns, often found on the exterior of buildings (like climbing up a trellis or over a fence) or in gardens in subtropical-to-tropical climates. See more ideas about Bougainvillea, Plants, Growing. She currently divides her life between San Francisco and southwestern France. Learn how to plant and care for bougainvillea and discover 8 of the best bougainvilleas to grow in your garden. Bougainvillea is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Brazil, Peru, Argentina and other South American countries. They are slender ivory tubes with multiple showy bracts. Alternatively, you can grow bougainvillea as a specimen container plant and move it indoors when the temperatures dip. If you plan to grow bougainvillea in containers, use a well-draining potting soil. Bougainvillea plant does best with a soil pH of 5.5-6.5. What does it take to keep a bougainvillea happy in cultivation? Some gardeners in Zone 8 have success with landscape bougainvilleas, especially in a protected, warm microclimate. For busy homeowners in … © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is 0°F. Any later than that and your bougainvillea may not have a chance to grow to maturity. Propagation of Bougainvillea cuttings . Always keep in mind that USDA zone info for Nashville is not always accurate and our actual date of last frost changes from year to year. It can cover entire slopes, and it's tough enough to choke out weeds. If you have lots of sun, bougainvillea are dead-easy to grow indoors. The leaves of this species are thin, and the bracts are magenta, fairly small and delicate. (Not sure which zone you live in? Vines will often blossom most profusely if grown in full sun ; however, they will tolerate light shade (and may even crave it in especially hot climates). The shrub's branching habit is looser and more open. The earliest that you can plant bougainvillea in Nashville is April.However, you really should wait until May if you don't want to take any chances.. The white flowers are larger than those of the spectabilis species, and the bracts are pointed and shaped like triangles. Bougainvillea is a hardy perennial, but it prefers the temperate climates of USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through 11. Water thoroughly when foliage wilts, making sure excess water can drain away quickly. While they can stand on their own as upright shrubs, they will climb up any available support, including trees, structures and fences. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near 5°F. With its almost year-round color from its beautiful bracts, bougainvillea is favored by gardeners as one of the best creeping plants or climbing plants in a landscape. The solid trunk also allows bougainvilleas to be trimmed as a bush or tree. The colorful bracts surround the actual flower, which is … If you don’t have growing space or live in a suitable climate, you can plant bougainvillea in a pot. Bougainvillea plants are commonly propagated by cuttings but seed growing is possible too. See map below.) Bougainvillea flowering shrubs plants are a climber with stiff curved thorns, bushes, and flower-like spring leaves which are bright green. It's also a survivor plant, known to tolerate drought, salt and winds. Bougainvillea glabra also flower almost continuously up and down the length of the branches, but the flowers are slightly different. “Bougainvillea″ is both the genus name and the common name of this popular plant. While some recommend a hole about twice the width of the plant container, I think about 30 percent larger or so is adequate to do the job. Bougainvillea is known for its colorful display of flowers, or bracts. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) For best planting results, be sure to leave your bougainvillea in the grow pot when planting it. In the wild, this creeper shrub prefers acidic soil and a very bright, sunny location. Add well-decomposed compost to the soil to make it well-draining. Bougainvillea are woody flowering shrubs that grow to 20 or 30 feet or more. If you want to keep bougainvillea outdoors all year long, it's best to be in hardiness zone 9 or higher. A variety of perennial plants are available in Tennessee to get your garden started with beautiful flowers. Yucca The tiny flowers appear up and down the branches almost year-round. The Best Time to Transplant a Mature Bougainvillea, University of Florida IFAS: Bougainvillea, Clemson Cooperative Extention: Bougainvillea, North Carolina State Extension: Bougainvillea, Difference Between Mandevilla & Bougainvillea. However, you really should wait until May if you don't want to take any chances. Some suggest that the best growing mixture is a soil-less mix since these are free of weed seeds, disease pathogens and insect eggs. It’s a lot like growing in my house. A large, dense shrub with hairy leaves and stems, it's also noted for its distinctive curved thorns. To take a cutting from Bougainvillea, look for softwood. They can be white as well as lilac and purple. Some species can tolerate lower temperatures. Avoid frequent, light watering. While there are a number of species of bougainvillea ‒ some deciduous, some evergreen ‒ only three are used widely in cultivation. 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. Temperature counts too in bougainvillea growing conditions. All species of bougainvillea are thorny shrubs in the Nyctaginaceae, the (four o'clock) family of plants. Heavy soil or any soil that holds water won't do. In fact, people who don’t like to do plant maintenance will purchase dwarf varieties of bougainvillea. A bougainvillea can even be trained as a bonsai. Bougainvillea: The papery flowers have a tropical vividness in shades of red, orange, purple, white, and other colors. You can get started a couple of weeks earlier by starting your bougainvillea indoors. Some species of bougainvillea grow as high as 30 feet, although 8 feet is the average that most people desire. It cascades nicely down the sides of containers too. The shrub's leathery leaves are also large, oval and hairy. Bougainvillea's vibrant colors come not from its small, inconspicuous true flowers, but from the three large bracts that surround them. How to Plant Bougainvillea.