Bougainvillea × buttiana
garden bougainvillea
Garden origin; parent species from South America
Overview
Bougainvillea x buttiana is a woody, thorny evergreen climber grown for its long-lasting colorful bracts, a hybrid between Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea peruviana. Left unsupported it forms a sprawling shrub 3–10 feet (0.9–3 m) high, but tied to a structure the scrambling stems reach 15–30 feet (4.5–9 m). Sharp axillary thorns and oval green leaves 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long line the arching canes. The small true flowers are slender white or cream tubes, each surrounded by three papery bracts that supply the color, in shades of magenta, red, purple, orange, pink, and white, with some cultivars in two tones. Bracts hold their color for weeks and appear in flushes through the warm season, heaviest where there is bright sun and a dry spell between waterings. The plant needs heat and full sun and is damaged below about 30°F (−1°C). It tolerates drought, salt, and poor soil once established but flowers poorly in shade or rich, wet ground. The thorns and brittle root ball make planting and training awkward.
Native Range
Bougainvillea x buttiana is a hybrid of garden origin, first raised from Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea peruviana, both native to South America. It has no wild range and is grown across tropical, subtropical, and warm coastal regions. The hybrids are propagated from cuttings.Suggested Uses
Trained on walls, fences, pergolas, and arches in warm climates, spaced 6–10 feet (1.8–3 m) apart, and grown as a sprawling bank cover on slopes. Compact cultivars are kept in large containers and as standards on sunny patios. The thorny canes also form a barrier hedge where a dense, defensive planting is wanted.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 30'
Width/Spread6' - 10'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Bracts appear in flushes through the warm season, with the heaviest display in spring and fall in many climates and nearly year-round in frost-free areas. Each flush holds color for several weeks. The small white flowers within the bracts draw bees and other insects. Bloom is triggered by bright light and a slight dry stress, and it thins in shade or with constant watering.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white flowers with magenta, red, orange, pink, or white bractsFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Bougainvillea x buttiana needs full sun and fast-draining soil at pH 5.5–7.5 and flowers most where summers are hot and bright. Watering is deep but infrequent once established, since constant moisture and rich soil produce leafy growth with few bracts, and wet roots rot. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 9–11 and is grown in containers and overwintered under cover where frost occurs. The root ball is brittle and easily damaged, so it is shifted with care and minimal root breakage. A bloom-type fertilizer low in nitrogen supports bract color. Drought, heat, and salt are well tolerated by established plants.Pruning
Cutting back the long canes after each flush of bracts shapes the plant and prompts new flowering shoots, since bracts form on new growth. A hard renewal pruning in late winter, before growth resumes, controls size on vigorous plants. Thorns make heavy cane removal slow work.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons