By Chris Winslow
If you’re looking for a strikingly beautiful flowering plant that loves our hot and dry summers, look no further than bougainvillea.
Named after the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville who discovered it during a stop in South America in 1768, bougainvillea is known for its wide varieties of colorful flowers from white, pinks, reds and purples.
Like the poinsettia, what gives bougainvillea its color are the showy leaf-like bracts surrounding the inconspicuous, small white flowers.
Flower forms are both singles and doubles, with some varieties showing more than one color on a single bush. The variety called Surprise has both pink and white bracts and is very showy.
Bougainvilleas need at least 6 hours of direct sun, and rich, well-drained soil. They like to dry out between waterings.
Because they are tropical, bougainvilleas need winter protection. It’s best to grow them in containers with premium potting soil. With a balanced fertilizer, you can have them in bloom throughout the summer and fall.
The key to keeping them alive for the following spring is to trim them back during the winter months and keep them from freezing weather.
If you want to plant them in the ground in the Hays/Travis County area, a southerly, sunny wall is the perfect location. Driving around south Austin, I have spotted many beautiful specimens in this location.
An added attraction, butterflies love bougainvillea flowers. Also, if you live in a neighborhood with deer, you’ll find that mostly they don’t seem to like them.
Bougainvilleas also can look beautiful in hanging baskets. My favorite variety is Juanita Hatten. Dark red in full sun, Juanita is a compact and free-flowering, a perfect fit for a 12-inch basket.
Spice up that deck or entryway. Bougainvillea can sure make it happen. Happy Gardening Everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it via email to [email protected]. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748.
