Bougainvillea Bougainvillea glabra
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Nyctaginaceae family. It grows 3–8 m (10–26 ft) tall and 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about 0 °C (32 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Bougainvillea in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Bougainvillea at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Nyctaginaceae |
| Mature height | 3–8 m (10–26 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About 0 °C (32 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 17–34 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Is Bougainvillea toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Bougainvillea is listed as non-toxic, though thorns can injure.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Bougainvillea
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Bougainvillea in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (3 plants)
- Gardens by the Bay (8 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Longwood Gardens (4 plants)
- Thai tropical garden (4 plants)
Questions about Bougainvillea
- How far apart should I plant Bougainvillea?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft).
- Does Bougainvillea need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Bougainvillea need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Bougainvillea?
- It tolerates about 0 °C (32 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Bougainvillea flower?
- From about March for 17–34 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Bougainvillea poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Bougainvillea is listed as non-toxic, though thorns can injure.
- What grows well with Bougainvillea?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Bougainvillea. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Colourful bracts surround small flowers; blooms best when slightly dry.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Four o'clock flower Mirabilis jalapa
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea