How to Grow Bougainvillea

Co-authored by Katie Gohmann

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 Approved

Bougainvillea is a tropical, shrub-like vine that bursts forth with colorful flowers for 11 months of the year if it's planted in the right climate. To grow bougainvillea, plant it in full sun, slightly acidic and well-drained soil, and a relatively hot and dry climate. Continue caring for your bougainvillea plant by watering sparingly, fertilizing every few months, pruning at the end of the season, and training it the climb a nearby wall or trellis. When cared for properly, this beautiful plant should return each year.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Planting Bougainvillea

1
Decide whether to plant in the ground or in a pot. Bougainvillea thrives in places that are hot and relatively dry. If you want to keep bougainvillea outdoors all year long, it's best to be in hardiness zone 9 or higher. If you're in a colder, wetter zone, you can still grow bougainvillea if you plant it in a pot and bring it indoors for the winter.
- Bougainvillea do best when night temperatures don't drop below 60 °F (16 °C) and daytime temperatures don't exceed 100 °F (38 °C).
- Bougainvillea can be wintered over in the basement or another low light area.
2
Find a sunny spot in your yard. Bougainvillea is a sun-lover and it will grow best in a full sun position, in the open, facing due North (in the southern hemisphere) and due South (in the northern hemisphere). Bougainvillea needs at least six hours of full sun every day to thrive.

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3
Choose a place with rich, well-drained soil. Bougainvillea won't do well in soil that retains too much water, so make sure the soil drains quite well. You may want to consider adding some sand, peat moss, perlite, or vermiculite to the soil. You can also plant on a slope to help promote drainage. They need rich soil that is slightly acidic, with pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
- Add limestone to the soil to increase the pH or sulphur to decrease the pH as necessary.
- If you're planting the bougainvillea in a pot, choose a soil mix with the appropriate pH level.
4
Plant the bougainvillea. Dig a hole as deep as the bougainvillea plant's root ball. Add a high-phosphate fertilizer to the hole to promote root growth and help the flowers bloom. Lift the bougainvillea plant from its container and tickle the roots, then wet the root ball into the hole. Lightly pat the soil around the base of the plant.
- If you want the bougainvillea to climb a trellis or wall, be sure to plant it near the structure. As it grows, you'll need to "train" it to climb the structure by wrapping it gently around the base.
- If you're planting the bougainvillea in a container, make sure to choose one with plenty of drainage holes, since bougainvillea hate to have "wet feet."

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Caring for Bougainvillea

1
Water sparingly. Bougainvillea plants weaken with too much watering, ending up with all leaf growth in place of flowers. On the other hand, letting the soil dry out will cause the plant to get stressed out. Find a happy medium - water enough to keep the soil damp, but not so much that you leave the plant waterlogged.
- It is important to let the top 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of soil dry out before watering. To check, stick a finger into the soil up to your knuckle. If the soil is dry to this point, then it is time to water.
2
Fertilize regularly. Feed the plant a fertilizer every few months to keep the flowers blooming. Fertilizing too frequently can cause the plant to grow quite vigorously, so if you find that it's getting too large, cut back on fertilizer.
- Most bougainvillea gardeners go with a 1:1:1 or a 2:1:2 fertilizer for regular fertilizing, not the high-phosphate fertilizer used at planting. Organic or slow-release fertilizers work best.^{[1]
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- Be sure to fertilize at least once a year, at the beginning of spring, to help the season's growth get underway.
3
Bring bougainvillea indoors for the winter. If you live in a climate that gets cold in the winter, and you planted your bougainvillea in a pot, bring it inside for the winter. If you leave it outside it will not survive the harsh weather.^{[2]
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4
Prune the bougainvillea. Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming and retain a pretty shape. After the bougainvillea has finished blooming for the season, cut it back by a few inches. This will promote healthy growth in the spring.^{[3]
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- Wear gloves when pruning bougainvillea. Some people can get a skin rash from pruning bougainvillea, similar to that from poison ivy. This is caused by the sap, not the leaves or stems.
5
Train the bougainvillea. Bougainvillea plants need support to cover a wall, fence, or other area. If you'd like the plant to grow in a certain vertical spot, you can hang rows of wire or string against the surface that you want covered. Tuck the bougainvillea branches behind these guidance supports at regular intervals. Keep a close eye on growth and adjust as necessary until the bougainvillea starts covering the wall or other surface.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you propagate Bougainvillea?

Monique Capanelli
Plant Specialist
Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. She attended the University of Texas at Austin. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons.

Monique Capanelli

Plant Specialist

Expert Answer
Question

How many times per day do I need to water the plant?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

It's not as simple as that. You need to stick your finger into the soil up to the knuckle. If the soil at the bottom (the tip of your finger) is damp, don't water. If it's dry, give the plant a good drink. I recommend checking the soil every day- but that doesn't mean you will water every day.
Question

My leaves are curling up. What should I do?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Sometimes curled leaves mean you have an insect problem. Check the top and underside of the leaves for bugs, and use an insecticidal soap, insecticide, or oil to get rid of them. The flowers won't last forever- when they fade, trim them off, and trim the whole plant back a few inches. It should reflower after a while.