Bougainvillea Spectabilis: Facts, How to Grow and Care Tips

Bougainvillea spectabilis, or the Great Bougainvillea is a perennial flowering plant. Its rich pink flowers make it popular among gardeners as an ornamental plant. It is a shrubby vine that grows well in a hot and dry climate. Check out this guide to learn how to grow this tropical plant in your home garden.

Table of Contents

See also: Zinnia elegans varieties and plant care tips

Bougainvillea spectabilis: Quick facts

Plant name	Bougainvillea spectabilis
Common names	Great bougainvillea
Family	Nyctaginaceae
Plant type	Woody vine, or shrub
Found in	Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina
Flower	Purple, red, pink, or orange flowers
Foliage	Evergreen, broad leaves
Flower blooming season	Spring, summer, and fall
Benefits	Ornamental purposes

Bougainvillea spectabilis: Description

The plant has green and elliptical leaves, and branches have long soft hair.
Bougainvillea spectabilis has modified leaves called bracts with an appearance of flowers.
The flower bracts appear in purple, pink or red colours. Some cultivars are available in white, blue, apricot, orange, and yellow.

Bougainvillea spectabilis: Uses

Medicinal benefits: The plant has been used in traditional medicine among the Yanadi tribe in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district. The leaves were used for treating diabetes

The extract and decoction of the plants were utilised in fertility control. Bougainvillea spectabilis is also known to contain anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and antiulcer properties.

Ornamental purpose: The plant is also widely grown as an ornamental plant, which can be grown in an open garden, or as a container plant in the patio and outdoor spaces. Several hybrids and cultivated varieties of Bougainvillea are commercialised as ornamental plants due to their long-lasting, colourful flower bracts.

Bougainvillea spectabilis: How to grow?

The plant can be grown from seeds. Bougainvillea spectabilis can be propagated from the stem and root cuttings. Cut the stems to a length of six inches and fill the container with peat and perlite. Keep the cuttings in the soil mixture, around one to two inches deep, and remove the remaining leaves from the stem.

Bougainvillea spectabilis: Care

Soil: The plant needs well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Choose clay, loam (silt) or sand for planting Bougainvillea spectabilis.
Sunlight: Keep the plant exposed to direct sunlight for at least six hours.
Watering: The plant needs deep watering every three to four weeks.
Repotting: Bougainvillea spectabilis grows quite fast, and regular repotting is required so that it does not outgrow its pot.

FAQs

What are the common problems of growing Bougainvillea spectabilis?

The plant occasionally attracts pests such as aphids, spider mites, thrips, slugs, and caterpillars. Like other plants, Bougainvillea spectabilis may be prone to leaf spots, root rot, or nutrient deficiencies without proper water and sunlight.

Are Bougainvillea spectabilis toxic?

Bougainvillea produces sap that is mildly toxic to pets. In a single prick, the thorns can cause allergic reactions or skin infections.

Do Bougainvilleas bloom all the year round?

When properly cared, Bougainvilleas can bloom all the year round outdoors. They can withstand heat and colder temperatures. Bring the plant indoors if temperatures go below 30 degrees Celsius.

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Harini Balasubramanian

Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.