Kinds of Bougainvillea

Standard Varieties

• One of the common types of standard bougainvillea plants is bougainvillea glabra. This evergreen plant grows in the form of a large cascading shrub. Even though it does not cling, the plant can be trained up on fences. Bougainvillea glabra can reach heights of 30 feet, but it commonly has a height of 10 to 12 feet. The plants may present different types of leaves, such as elliptical, cordate and globular. Flowers may have various colors, including white, purple, hot pink, red and yellow. Another common variety is bougainvillea peruviana, which is native to Peru and Colombia and is a climbing shrub with long and narrow leaves. Flowers have a wrinkled appearance and their colors are light to dark magenta. The plant may bloom several times a year.

Hybrid Varieties

• A cross between bougainvillea glabra and bougainvillea peruviana, bougainvillea x buttiana is an evergreen plant that may spread horizontally or climbing upwards. The colorful blooms are modified leaves, surrounding small white flowers, which are trumpet shaped. Bougainvillea x buttiana can be grown outside in the summer, but it need to be brought indoors during winter, to protect it from frost. Another hybrid is bougainvillea x spectoperuviana, which has dark green hairless leaves. The flowers of this plant are cream colored and the bracts are pink or magenta. Bougainvillea x spectoglabra is another common hybrid plant, with purple bracts and small dark green leaves.

Climate and Soils

• Bougainvilleas tolerate hot well sun and grow best in full light. When in shady areas, the plants may drop their bracts. Bougainvillea plants tolerate temperatures over 100 degrees F. Some varieties, such as bougainvillea glabra may grow well at temperatures of 58 to 64 degrees F. The plants need well-drained, acidic soils and will not grow well when they are wet constantly. Bougainvilleas are wind resistant and drought and salt tolerant.

Landscape Uses

• Both standard and hybrid bougainvillea varieties are showy plants and thus they are widely used in landscaping and gardens. They can be used as a groundcover for large areas or as bushes or shrubs. Some of the bougainvillea plants, such as bougainvillea glabra, are suitable for being used as accent plants or in containers or hanging baskets.