The bougainvillea plant is a thorny vine with colorful flowers.

The Bougainvillea plant

What are they called again? They are also known as the bougainvillea, paper flower. These flowers come from the Nyctaginaceae or four-o'clock family.

What Makes the bougainvillea plant so Fascinating?

The plant is a vine-like flower, with a woody vine. In 1767, it was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville. This was a noble Frenchman who in fact traveled the world.

This lovely flower will lose its leaves briefly during the winter. They are what we consider a semi evergreen.

With its unique wooden-type vine, watching it sprout out can be fascinating. When they sprout out, they tend to go in all different directions.

For the most part, gardeners will tend to keep them trimmed as much as possible.

You can't help but notice the beautiful heart shaped leaves that have a very soft feel to them. You will notice that there are fewer thorns that happen to also be smaller than the others in the same family.

The blossom is actually white and very small. It appears against the bracts that are responsible for the color. These flowers can reach up to 40 feet and are the most beautiful from the summer to autumn.

For the most part, you will be able to locate the Bougainvillea plant in South America. However, they can be found from places like Florida and California, then everywhere in between.

Even though America is where you will see them the most, they can also be found in places like France, Australia and even is Asia.

How Might I Care For These Beautiful Flowers?

These are not at all picky with the type of soil that they like. They adapt quite well but like a well-drained, rich, and loamy type of soil.

If you decide to grow in a pot, make sure that the roots are close together so that it will develop the best flowers possible. You should reduce the water during the winter months, because this is sort of a "hibernating" time for them.

They love the light, bright light that is. They can go without water for a period of time. However, it is safe to allow them not water so that they will force blossoms.

Why Do These Shrubs Gain So Much Attention? What Are They Good For Anyway?

People like to use them for decorating fences because of the extravagant colors. It is recommended that if your taste happens to be Mediterranean, you have at least one of these in your archways and framed windows.

The colors are absolutely breath taking. You may even put them in large pots to decorate patios. The great thing about it is that you can make it into any shape that you want to or just let it grow wild.

The Good and the Bad About the Bougainvillea plant. There is Nothing Ugly About It.

There are many things that you can take into consideration when you are thinking of using some of these flowers for your home or elsewhere.

First of all, they are not a good plant to have around children. The reason being is because it is a shrub and children can easily get their fingers pricked by the thorny vine.

On the other hand, they are a good plant to have for security reason. Disguised by the beautiful colors, one may not think twice about trying to climb over it, just to find out that there is a surprise awaiting them called a bunch of thorns.

This is a beautiful choice for colors and to decorate large areas from a distance. Since they are a vine, it would look beautiful climbing up onto a fence line. Not to mention, the beautiful variety of colors that they have to choose from as well.

With all of the reasons to use and not to use these in your landscape, the choice is yours. Like mentioned, it is not good around kids. Then you may not want them anywhere people would be swimming, like pools and lake areas. The Bougainvillea plant is a beautiful vine and very unique.

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