All About My Bougainvilleas!
Bougainvillea is a vibrant, ornamental plant that can grow as a vine, bush, or even a small tree, depending on the variety. I grow several types in my Zone 9b Central Florida garden, and while they’re known for being “easy” and “low-maintenance,” I’d have to disagree with that reputation!
Maybe it's our subtropical climate, but if a bougainvillea isn’t happy with something—you’ll know it right away. They're not exactly shy about showing their stress.
Bougainvilleas thrive in warm zones (9b–11) and truly shine when planted in full, bright sun. If they’re stuck in a shady spot, expect lots of leafy green growth but not much in the way of blooms.
My 'Barbara Karst' Bougainvillea trailing up our gate in March
(Click to view full photo)
The secret to a thriving, flowering bougainvillea is simple: sun, sun, and more sun! These plants don’t like to be watered frequently and prefer well-draining soil, as they absolutely hate having “wet feet.”
In my experience, bougainvilleas do best when left alone—no water for several weeks, followed by a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks. The ones I have planted directly in the ground don’t get watered at all unless we’re going through a rare drought here in Central Florida.
During our humid summers, everything—from your lawn to your garden—will look like it’s been freshly watered just from the overnight moisture. So for established bougainvilleas, summer watering really isn’t necessary.
If they start getting too much water too often, you’ll notice them decline—just like in the photos below.
As you can see, bougainvilleas do not appreciate too much water. We've had a lot of rain lately here in Central Florida, and my plants are definitely not happy about it! The leaves start to curl and wilt, and flowering comes to a halt.
Since this one is planted in a raised bed with excellent drainage, I’m just going to ride it out and see how it bounces back once the rain eases up.
This magenta bougainvillea is growing in a pot on the opposite side of my Barbara Karst bougainvillea. Both are only about a year old, so it’ll be interesting to see how they establish themselves over time.
Below is my ‘Raspberry Ice’ bougainvillea—a real stunner with variegated foliage and hot pink bracts that bloom when it’s sunny, hot, and dry. I planted a hedge of five, and as you can see, they’re growing in beautifully. They’re not blooming at the moment, but honestly, the foliage alone is worth it!
And last but not least—meet my new baby bougainvillea, ‘Torch Glow’. This unique variety is self-supporting, with upright branches that burst into fiery magenta bracts at the tips—just like a torch! I’m so excited to watch it grow and see how it develops over time.
I do have one more bougainvillea I haven’t shared yet—it’s another variety from the “Torch” series called ‘Pixie Queen’. It features the same gorgeous pink bracts, along with slightly variegated leaves that give it a really unique look. Once it fills out a bit more, I’ll be sure to share a photo!
Hope you’re all having an amazing day—happy gardening! 🌿
