The Beautiful Bougainvillea

The Bougainvillea has been a favorite ornamental plant for nearly a hundred years. This woody vine grows at a very fast rate, easily climbing fences, dangling from baskets, and filling up flowers beds.  Every spring, this evergreen plant blooms, with hundreds or even thousands of paper-thin bracts. These flower-like petals can be purple, red, orange, white, or yellow in color depending upon the variety that you have growing at home. The result is a stunning pop of color that you can enjoy for the next couple of months.

6-Foot Bougainvillea Tree

Using the Real Thing
Large Bougainvillea trees are a great colorful addition to courtyards and patios but they can be difficult to maintain. Once the blooming period is finished, all of those fluttering bracts fall to the ground, making for quite the mess. While you are busy sweeping them up, make sure to be careful not to get too close to the plant. It has long thorns that should be avoided. Because they grow so quickly, they are a great choice for covering up a less than stunning fence. It also means that regular trimming is required to keep them from overtaking your space.

Opting for Artificial Versions
If you love the look of this beautiful ornamental plant but you aren’t looking for all the upkeep, opt for an artificial version. You can purchase artificial bougainvillea plants by the stem, in a hanging basket, as potted trees, as garlands, or even as unspotted plants. With this many options available to you, the possibilities of how you use them seem endless. Place a few branches in your favorite color inside a old milk glass vase, hang a pair of them in baskets from your front porch, or hide the four beams of a pergola with four tall bougainvillea trees.

If you can’t decide whether real or artificial are right for you, use a combination of the two. Plant natural bushes along your property line or in a flowerbed and bring an artificial plant into your home as a centerpiece.