ClimbersBougainvillea spectabilis
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a spectacular climber famed for its overwhelming mass of brightly coloured bracts in pink, purple or red. The true flowers are small and white, hidden among the showy bracts. This vigorous plant covers walls and pergolas in a dazzling tapestry of colour from May to October.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Height
- 300–1000 cm
- Spread
- 200–600 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 9–11
- Family
- Nyctaginaceae
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Flower colors
- pink, purple, red
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, hummingbirds
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in full sun against a warm, sheltered wall in well-drained soil. Water sparingly — bougainvillea blooms better with some drought stress. Not hardy in cool climates; overwinter in a cool, bright, frost-free spot. Feed monthly with potassium-rich fertiliser during the growing season.
Pruning tips
Prune after flowering or in early spring. Shorten long shoots to the desired length and remove dead and weak branches. Bougainvillea flowers on new wood, so regular pruning encourages blooming. Wear gloves because of the thorns.
Good companions
ShrubsNerium oleander
Oleander
Oleander is a profusely flowering evergreen shrub with elongated dark green leaves and clusters of fragrant blooms in pink, white or red from June to September. An iconic Mediterranean plant, it thrives as a container specimen on sunny terraces even in cooler regions.
TreesOlea europaea
Olive Tree
The olive tree is a majestic, long-lived tree with distinctive silver-green foliage and a gnarled trunk that grows increasingly characterful with age. In warm climates it produces edible olives following a modest white bloom in June. As a container plant it can bring Mediterranean charm to cooler regions too.
TreesPlumeria rubra
Frangipani
Frangipani is a tropical tree famed for its intoxicatingly fragrant flowers in soft shades of pink, white and yellow. The waxy blooms appear in clusters at the tips of thick, fleshy branches from May to October. In winter the tree sheds its leaves, revealing an elegantly branched silhouette.