Life Cycle
Perennial
Plant Characteristics
Showy bracts
Growth Habit
Climbing spreading
Bloom Season
Summer autumn
Flavour Profile
Non edible
Suitable for
Outdoor
Seed Type
Open pollinated
Plant Type
Ornamental climber
Planting Season
Spring summer
Fruit Size
Small pods
Plant Height
10 to 20 ft
Light Requirement
Full sun
Water Needs
Low moderate
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
Container Garden
Large pots
Plant Spacing
6 to 8 ft
Planting Depth
0.5 inch
Growing Conditions
Warm dry
Frequently Asked Questions
Does true blue bougainvillea actually exist in nature?
Does true blue bougainvillea actually exist in nature?
Not really. Bougainvillea bracts naturally range through purple, magenta, red, orange, and white, but a true vivid blue doesn't occur naturally; "blue" varieties are typically deep purple or violet-blue tones.
Will seed-grown plants match the "blue" color shown in photos?
Will seed-grown plants match the "blue" color shown in photos?
Since this is open-pollinated seed, color can vary between individual plants, and what's marketed as "blue" may appear more purple or violet once the bracts open.
I've seen bougainvillea photos online with unnaturally vivid blue color; is that real?
I've seen bougainvillea photos online with unnaturally vivid blue color; is that real?
Some online images of "blue" bougainvillea are digitally altered or show dye-injected cut stems rather than the plant's true living bract color, so it's worth treating extremely saturated blue photos with skepticism.
Which real bougainvillea varieties come closest to a true blue-violet tone?
Which real bougainvillea varieties come closest to a true blue-violet tone?
Deep purple cultivars are generally considered the closest naturally occurring shade to "blue" in bougainvillea, rather than any variety showing a true sky-blue color.
How do I manage this plant's vigorous 10–20 ft growth in a smaller yard?
How do I manage this plant's vigorous 10–20 ft growth in a smaller yard?
Regular pruning and training onto a trellis or wall support can keep its size in check, since left unpruned it will climb and spread aggressively in that height range.
Does this bougainvillea die back in cooler winters at the edge of its hardiness zone?
Does this bougainvillea die back in cooler winters at the edge of its hardiness zone?
At the cooler end of zones 9–11, frost can cause dieback, though established roots often resprout in spring if the cold snap wasn't prolonged or severe.