Those who have seen bougainvillea at least once in their lives can never forget it, because this plant is one of the most beautiful and unique. The homeland of this evergreen shrub is warm Brazil, which explains the peculiarities of its cultivation in the local climate..
The bright flowers on the branches, similar to origami, are not inflorescences at all, but bracts. Depending on the variety, they can be different colors and even shades. The actual flowers, around which these “paper” leaves are found, are quite small and most often appear in white and yellow tones..
Popular Types of Garden Bougainvillea
In nature, there are up to 20 varieties of bougainvillea, however, only some hybrids can survive in open ground, and even then only in southern regions. In the rest, the plant is most often grown as a houseplant. Additionally, it can often be found in greenhouses..
Unlike indoor bougainvillea species with their compact size, garden varieties have impressive growth and can reach 10 m without pruning..
As a garden plant that can winter outdoors, the following varieties have proven their effectiveness:
- Smooth bougainvillea (glabra). The strongly branched vine up to 5 m tall has soft, creeping shoots that become woody with age. The leaves are dark green with a glossy shine. The bracts can be painted in different colors: from white and yellow to orange and red. Blooms for a long time.
- Peruvian bougainvillea. The straight, unbranched shoots are covered with green bark and short thorns. Blooms with yellow inflorescences several times per season. The bracts have a different pink color..
- Beautiful bougainvillea. A dense, large shrub with long, fast-growing shoots (up to 10 m), covered with thorns. The leaves are pubescent. The bracts are painted in lilac-red color and fade over time..
Features of Growing Garden Vines.
Since bougainvillea is by nature a true tropical plant, it grows in the garden only in a warm southern climate. However, you can plant it as a container plant and take it outside during the summer..
When the soil temperature drops below 5 degrees Celsius, the shrub’s roots die..
Maximum warmth and light is what bougainvillea needs. It is also necessary to water it abundantly, but only in summer. From autumn, watering should be gradually reduced until it stops completely in winter..
If a container with a plant winters indoors, you should occasionally moisten the soil so that it does not dry out completely..
As a dressing, you can use organic matter (humus): add it during planting and cover the soil under the shrub. During the spring-summer period, use phosphorus fertilizers (no more than 4 times per month).
Garden bougainvillea needs regular pruning. In spring, it is necessary to prune the branches to stimulate branching, in summer, to shape the bush, and in autumn, to cut the tips of young branches and remove half of the previous year’s length..