Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is grown for its papery, brilliantly coloured bracts rather than true flowers, produced in flushes through the warm season on a vigorous, thorny, fast-growing vine trained into tree form. It wants maximum sun and a slightly dry, stressed root zone to flower well, and drops bracts and leaves readily in low light or cold.

Care at a glance

Watering

Let the top third dry between waterings. Roughly every 3 days in spring, 2 in summer, 3 in autumn and 4 in winter.

Light

Brightest window you have.

Winter

Indoors year-round below this; a cold draft does more harm than a dim room. Protect it when the forecast drops below 12 °C.

Feeding

Every 30 days, Apr to Sep.

Repotting

Every 2 years, once nights stay warm, in Apr or May or Jun.

Growth

Fast growing. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.

The work calendar

Styles that suit it

MoyogiKengaiSokan

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