What is bougainvillea?
Without a doubt, if you have ever traveled to the coastal areas of Murcia or Alicante, you will have seen this plant on more than one occasion. Climbing type, it is characterized by its beautiful flowers of intense colors. It is a truly pretty plant and can flower all year round if planted in warm climates. Hence, in the south of Spain it is widely used to give life to private gardens. It is very opaque but somewhat dirty, as its flowers fall quite frequently to the ground. And they are truly numerous. However, if you like bright colors and gardens with a cheerful touch, bougainvillea is definitely your plant.
Bougainvillea is part of the Bougainvillea species and takes on many different names depending on the area. In Spain it is called Bougainville but for example in Colombia or Cuba it is known as Trinitarian. In Peru it is called Papelillo while in Argentina or Uruguay it is called Santa Rita. Curious, right?
Being a climber, it can be adapted to practically any type of surface. They can measure between 1 m and even reach 12 m in height. They are ideal as an ornament for gardens. For example:
- To delimit spaces. Many people use them to delimit gardens by placing them on fences. Being climbers, they end up covering the entire surface and creating a truly wonderful optical illusion.
- To create flowering bushes and hedges. They are easy to prune and can be shaped any way you like. Even rounded or fancy.
- To make bonsai. Lovers of this plant and the beautiful art of bonsai can use bougainvillea to make these little trees. They are truly spectacular.
Care and cultivation of bougainvillea
This plant is characterized by being strong and resistant. Both pests and climate changes. However, if you want it to look truly beautiful, it is worth knowing what its care is. Let’s review the main ones below.
- It must receive a lot of light. This plant will show all its beauty if it has enough lighting. Otherwise, it will lose its leaves in the usual way and will not flower. If you place it in the garden, do your best to place it in the area with the greatest amount of sun. Be careful; always put it away from the pool because it loses many leaves.
- Temperatures. We have already explained that the strongest variant holds up to -7º C. It is from 5ºC when it begins to lose leaves. The ideal temperature for this plant is the one that occurs from spring to autumn. In warmer areas it does not lose as many leaves. In winter, as a general rule, it does lose more quantity because temperatures drop. It is not recommended for areas with frost. In case of planting it, it should be done in pots to be able to introduce them inside the home during the coldest periods of the year. If it is brought indoors in winter or planted indoors, remember that at this time the plant has to rest. That is, it must have a cooler temperature and minimal irrigation.
- To water them… in summer they have to be watered about 2 or 3 times a week if they are indoors. If you are away, once a week will be enough. In winter when we notice dry land.
- Pruning. Bougainvillea is pruned during the winter in warm climates. If planted in cold weather it is best to prune it in spring. To prune this plant in the garden, the simplest thing is to cut all the shoots that have sprouted during the season on the sides. You must leave a safety distance of 5 cm from the main stem. Do not cut on the new shoots, but above them. If you see that there are very long stems, it is best to cut them. Over time they end up weakening due to the weight of the plant itself.
- Pass. For those bougainvillea’s planted in pots, it is best to pay them every 15 days during spring and summer. If it is planted directly in the garden, it does not even need fertilizer. As we mentioned, it is a very resistant and strong plant that grows perfectly without help.
Bougainvillea colors
In reality, what we know as the “flower” of the bougainvillea is not. These are bracts that protect the true flower. This one is rather small and with white colors.
Have you ever heard this term? Well, when we talk about bracts we refer to a part of the plant that botanically does not correspond to either the flower or the leaf. The bracts are midway between the leaves and the periapt. Its main function is to protect the flower directly. This part of the plant is not responsible for carrying out photosynthesis.
As a general rule, the species of this plant that are most cultivated are two:
- The Bougainvillea spectabilis.
- The Bougainvillea labra.
These two varieties are characterized by their high resistance to cold. Hence, they are the ones that are planted the most in gardens around the world. Both can withstand sub-zero temperatures. The spectabilis can perfectly resist down to -3º C, while the labra is capable of staying great down to -7º C. As we have explained a few lines above, they flower throughout the year in warm climates. Including winter. In the rest they bloom from spring to autumn. So you will have a very flowery and attractive garden for most of the year.
Regardless of the variety, all plants belonging to this species are characterized by their enormous color. Ranging from pink to white, through yellow and even purple. Normally the ones that are seen the most are the lilacs and the pinkish ones. However you can find many different shades. Ask in your usual nursery to locate the ones that best fit your garden design. The yellow ones are truly spectacular, just like the white ones.
Many garden designers make truly amazing combinations with the different colors that bougainvillea offers. This, together with their ability to adapt to any type of shape and their incredible strength, makes them very versatile plants.
Bougainvillea pests
Bougainvillea is usually resistant to all kinds of pests. However, our beloved “garden bugs” can end up “sink their teeth” into this beautiful climbing plant. Among the most common pests that bougainvillea can suffer are undoubtedly the following:
- Attack by mealy bugs. Cochineal is usually one of the most common pests that this type of plant suffers. It is an insect that parasitizes on plants. Females are smaller than males and round in appearance. The males, however, are more elongated and have wings. To feed on plants they use a kind of beak through which they suck the sap. In doing so, they secrete a kind of liquid with a high sugar content. This liquid serves as a breeding ground for the Negril fungus… As its name indicates, it is a black fungus that attacks the areas where the mealy bugs have extracted the sap. This pest is relatively complicated to eliminate because this insect has a hard shell that allows it to protect itself from insecticides. The first step is to soak a cotton pad in methylated spirits for the affected leaves and stems. This usually works very well on indoor plants, although not so well on outdoor plants due to their large size. The next step is to spray insecticide. This is responsible for eradicating especially the larvae that do not yet have a hard shell. The more numerous the larvae, the more effective the treatment. Hence, it must be carried out during the cochineal breeding period. It is recommended to make 2 preventive applications at the beginning of May or June. The second application must be given about three weeks later. Once the plague is located, at least 3 applications must be made with a lapse of 15-20 days between each one of them. In the case of gardens, it is best to do the shock treatment in winter and the preventive applications in May-June. Over time it is possible to get rid of this pest.
- Aphid. The aphid is another of the most common pests that this or any other garden plant can suffer. It is normal that both indoors and outdoors our plants end up being attacked by these insects at some point in their lives. In general, there are different species that indiscriminately attack all types of plants and crops. We know that our plants have aphids when we see the insect itself (which can measure up to 3 mm), when the leaves remain rolled up and are somewhat slimy and bitten. When the most tender shoots are nibbled and by the appearance of yellow or green spots where the plant has been attacked. It usually appears easily in spring and summer. In combination with the low humidity in the environment and the abundance of fertilizers. The females are the ones in charge of transmitting this pest from one plant to another, as there are some with and without wings. They don’t lay eggs, they give birth to them. Like the cochineal, the aphid sticks a sucking beak through which it accesses the sap. When they bite the plant it infects it. To eliminate this plant you have to remove the weeds and dry leaves. In this way we prevent them from taking refuge in these spaces. If you haven’t affected much of the plant, it’s best to remove the affected leaves directly. What works best against abundant pests are systemic insecticides? That is, those that gets into the sap and cause the insect to die when it sucks it. It must be treated throughout the year at least 3 times in total. Spring and summer are undoubtedly 2 times when the treatment must be carried out.
