The Show-Stopping Bougainvillea

By: Pamela Nobles
June 5, 2008

Memories of this exuberant vine still capture my thoughts as I think back to my childhood years. We lived in a beautiful brick home on San Jose Blvd. in Jacksonville where I remember how very breathtaking it was to see this Bougainvillea meandering up the brick wall of my parent’s home. The sprawling, long arching branches held sprays of delicate raspberry-pink bracts that were absolutely show-stopping. Now if you were to ask my sisters, Jacque or Deborah, they might challenge me, we’re somewhat older now, with a magenta-red or purple-red, whichever, we girls looked forward to eyeing the beautiful display of those strikingly vivid, flower clusters growing rampantly up those walls even over the windows. I’m reminded of the last months of my mother’s rich life. She was bedridden at her home and in a hospital bed, where, my sister Deborah (and husband) stayed with her till she went to her eternal home. She turned the bed to face the huge windows where she could view and enjoy her Bougainvillea in her last days. The Bougainvillea was named for Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French navigator who discovered the plant in 1768 in Brazil. The first specimen was brought to France in 1800, and then to England and beyond. So from these species have come numerous hybrids, from two-foot dwarf cultivars that enrich balconies and patios to rampant climbers that can exceed thirty feet. Bougainvilleas are versatile, exuberant subtropical and tropical vines that flower almost all year long in warm regions. They can be grown all year long in certain zones, however, in the colder climates they would need to be protected from the cold and frost by growing them in containers. However, as mentioned above, my mothers Bougainvillea came back each Spring due to the fact that she had lots of trees in her yard whereby, those leaves were used as a compost to cover the woody base to protect from the cold winters. Most Bougainvilleas have spiny thorns, but some of the newer varieties are nearly thornless or have such insignificant thorns that they are not a bother. The actual flowers are delicate, paper-thin bracts, which grow in clusters Colors of these magnificent flowers may be pure white, bold pinks, dark reds, orange, lavender, magenta and gold. There are many varieties of the Bougainvilleas such as Tahitian Dawn, Texas Dawn, Purple Queen, Don Mario, Oo-La-La, Camarillo, Scarlett O’hara, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The last one mentioned lives up to its name with profuse bloomers that opens deep violet, turning to light violet, then white, and all in three days. Doesn’t that just inspire you to go out and purchase one of these? Some of these varieties may not be found in your local nurseries, so please call if you are interested and I’ll gladly share where you may obtain one of these beauties. Bougainvillea requires full sun, and regular but not too much water as they will cease flowering, even to losing leaves and wilting. To maximize flowering, you will need to prune the vines to promote new growth, just as He does us since He is the vine and we are the branches. Discarding the old branches will enhance the flowering to bear much more fruit, blossoms and awesome clusters making new stems. In the fall, again prune to shape by removing unwanted shoots. Vines can be trained to stand alone as a sprawling shrub, or allowed to grow naturally where it will quickly cover fences or climb up into trees. Soil tolerances; clay, sand; acidic; slightly alkaline; loam. Drought tolerance is high. Tip of the week: For your next outdoor gathering put together a unique centerpiece that will surely catch the eye of your friends & family and, too, you can snip & use these herbs in your meats and vegetables. Fill a terra-cotta bowl 13 inches wide by 4 ½ deep with potting soil and plants; two 4-inch pots each of lemon-lime thyme and a six-pack or two of common thyme. Before planting set a candle (light citrus scent) with a hurricane glass in the center. Til’ next time, blessings be multiplied to you, Pamela.