bougainvillea tree

How big do bougainvillea trees get?

Height/Spread: Most varieties of bougainvillea grow 20 to 30 feet tall and wide with support. If grown as groundcover, they will be 1-1/2 to 2 feet tall and spread 8 to 10 feet wide. There are dwarf varieties which will generally grow to be 3-6 feet tall and wide.

How do you take care of a bougainvillea tree?

It prefers a good, deep watering every 3-4 weeks rather than frequent shallow waterings. When establishing (in the 1st couple of years), be sure to give your bougainvillea regular water. It's subject to a few types of root rots so don't over-water. The soil should be well-drained which will help prevent rot.

Does bougainvillea bloom all year-round?

Bougainvilleas thrive and blossom most where they can grow outdoors year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, but you can also grow them as houseplants or as annuals in cooler climates.

Is bougainvillea a tree or shrub?

The Bougainvillea is an evergreen shrub, little tree or thorny vine with little trumpet-shaped flowers which grow in clusters of three and come with three pretty bright papery bracts, most often magenta or purple colored.

What month does bougainvillea bloom?

Bougainvillea is a perennial vine that can grow to 30 feet, depending on the variety. It needs full sun, is root hardy and will regrow in spring. Its bracts "bloom" May-December on new wood. Heavy pruning, lack of water and fertilizer low in nitrogen encourage blooming.

Do bougainvillea like coffee grounds?

Coffee Grounds

The bougainvillea plant loves acidic soil and nitrogen. Coffee grounds provide super nutrients, with nitrogen being one of them. This makes the soil more acidic and helps the flowers to thrive!

Does bougainvillea attract rats?

But bougainvillea plants are also messy, thorny and make a dandy home for rats, earning them a love-hate relationship with landscapers and maintenance workers countywide.

Does bougainvillea need a lot of water?

Bougainvillea are drought-tolerant plants, and require very little water once established. Bring the soil to visual dryness between waterings. Wilting is the best indicator that watering is needed. ... When it is time to water, do it thoroughly – making sure that every inch of root gets watered.

How fast do bougainvillea trees grow?

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) are fast growers, a botanical term that for vines means they can grow more than 36 inches year. Bougainvilleas will only achieve this rapid growing rate under their optimal preferences for weather and growing conditions.

Can Bougainvillea grow in pots?

Bougainvillea performs well in a relatively small container where its roots are slightly restricted. ... Use a regular potting soil without a high level of peat moss; too much peat retains moisture and may result in root rot. Any container used for growing bougainvillea must have at least one drainage hole.

Does bougainvillea need full sun?

Bougainvillea will grow in a variety of soil types, is highly drought tolerant but should be grown in full sun in acid soil to produce numerous colored bracts (similar to poinsettia or dogwood). ... Another option would be to move the bougainvillea to a sunny site.

Are bougainvillea poisonous to dogs?

Bougainvillea is popular in the southern United States, where this flowering evergreen vine can grow up to 12 feet long. If your dog eats bougainvillea, seek veterinary help -- this plant is classified as mildly toxic to dogs and children.

Is the bougainvillea plant poisonous?

The sap of the bougainvillea plant is only mildly toxic, but if ingested in large enough quantities, it can lead to illness. Bougainvillea's leaves are not toxic, but a prick from the plant's sharp thorns can lead to dermatitis, a skin rash typically caused by an allergic reaction.

Do bougainvillea lose leaves in winter?

During the winter, bougainvilleas will go dormant and shed their leaves, but they will remain very much alive if placed in a garage or semi- protected area where the temperatures do not fall much below freezing.

Does bougainvillea need trellis?

If you want your bougainvillea to climb, you will need a trellis or other structure on which to tie the vines, explains Garden Services. ... You may need to add more ties as the vines spread. Keep your bougainvillea happy by clipping off dead flowers and pruning the vines.

How long does a bougainvillea bloom?

With at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, a typical, healthy bougainvillea will remain in a blooming period for 3 to 5 weeks.

How do I get more flowers on my bougainvillea?

Even if the plant grows, it may not bloom. Moreover, you need to water the bougainvillea only sparingly. The plant needs to be re-potted every two years. This aid growth of the roots and would help it flower abundantly.

Will bougainvillea bloom in the shade?

Bougainvilleas will grow beautifully in partial shade, producing lush growth with large dark green leaves -- but they will not bloom. Bougainvilleas need direct sun for at least eight hours daily for them to bloom their best.

What kills bougainvillea?

With concerted effort, you can successfully kill bougainvillea shrubs by cutting back the growth severely and applying glyphosate herbicide to the cut stems. Due to the energetic growing tendencies of bougainvillea, be prepared to repeat this process several times to kill the bougainvillea shrub completely.

Does Bougainvillea grow from cuttings?

The easiest of bougainvillea propagation methods is to grow it from cuttings. It can be done at any time of the year. To take a cutting from your bougainvillea, look for softwood. ... Remove any leaves from the cutting and insert it upright in a mix of one part perlite and one part peat.

Is Epsom salt good for bougainvillea?

Bougainvillea will not bloom in shade. ... Go easy on nitrogen fertilizer or you'll get all leaves and no blooms. Try feeding it once a month in summer with a tablespoon of Epsom salts dissolved in a gallon of water.