How to Grow Bougainvillea

Choose a spot in your garden that's in full sun or partial shade (at least six hours of sun is ideal). Bougainvilleas will tolerate most soil types, as long as they're well-drained. They're tropical plants that grow best in a warm, frost-free climate. In cool areas Bougainvilleas can shed their leaves in winter. For climbing varieties, a large and strong support will be required, as stems can grow many metres long. Most Bougainvilleas have thorns, so they should be positioned where the thorns won't cause harm.

Prior to planting, improve the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It's a rich source of organic matter to help improve soil structure and water holding capacity, as well as attract earthworms and beneficial soil microorganisms.  

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the plant in the hole and backfill around the roots with soil. The final level of soil should be at the same level as the original potting mix around the plant. Water in well to settle the soil around the roots. 

Keep the soil moist as the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, around the root zone will help keep the soil and roots moist.  

Once established, Bougainvilleas are tolerant of dry conditions, however will be much healthier if watered regularly. In extended hot and dry periods, Bougainvilleas will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week. Watering can be reduced during the coolest months.  

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers.

Plants can grow vigorously. To help keep them tidy and to a manageable size, prune back plants each year after flowering. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning to help protect yourself from the thorns.  

Dwarf types of Bougainvilleas, such as 'Bambino Bougs', are ideal for growing in pots. Depending on the variety they grow from 0.6–1.5 m tall. An added benefit of dwarf Bougainvilleas is that their thorns tend to be smaller. Otherwise larger varieties can be grown in pots, positioned next to a vertical or horizontal support.  

Choose a well-drained pot at least 500 mm wide. Pick a spot in your garden that's in full sun or partial shade (at least six hours of sun is ideal). They're tropical vines and grow best in a warm, frost-free climate. In cool areas Bougainvilleas can shed their leaves in winter. For climbing varieties, the pot will need to be positioned next to a large vertical or horizontal support, as stems can grow many metres long. Large varieties of Bougainvilleas have thorns, so they should be positioned where the thorns won't cause harm. 

Choose a good quality premium potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.  

Part fill your chosen pot with potting mix. Remove the plant from its container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.  

Once established, Bougainvilleas are drought tolerant, however will be much healthier if watered regularly. In extended hot and dry periods, potted Bougainvilleas will benefit from a good deep watering at least once or twice a week. Watering can be reduced during the coolest months.  

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers. 

Plants can grow vigorously. To help keep them tidy and to the size you want, prune back plants each year after flowering. Dwarf varieties should only need a light trim. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning to help protect yourself from the thorns.  

In cool climates, plants can lose their leaves in winter and will re-sprout in spring.

Yes! Dwarf varieties are best for pots. Plant tags will indicate their suitability for growing in containers.  

Bougainvilleas need lots of sunshine, so ensure your Bougainvillea is growing in a spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day. Feeding with a high potassium fertiliser, like Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food can also help promote flowering. And only prune once the main flowering period is over, otherwise you could be cutting off future flowers. 

Regular light pruning can help promote bushier growth. The stem tips can also be pinched back to promote bushy growth.  

Bougainvilleas are heavy feeders. A balanced fertiliser that contains nitrogen for healthy stem and leaf growth and is boosted with additional flower-promoting potassium, like Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food  is ideal for feeding Bougainvilleas.  

Large varieties need a strong support, such as a fence, pergola, trellis or wires, to grow up. Plants can become large and heavy over time, so ensure your support structure is robust.   

Bougainvilleas predominantly flower from mid-spring to late summer.  

Bougainvilleas can be propagated from both softwood and hardwood cuttings. Take softwood cuttings in late summer and hardwood cuttings in winter. Learn how to grow plants from cuttings here.  

Lightly prune back plants each year once flowering has finished. For larger varieties, additional pruning of long stems may be required to keep the plant to a manageable size.  

Bougainvilleas can respond well to a hard prune but only do this if it is absolutely necessary as they respond better to light regular pruning. 

Dwarf varieties of Bougainvilleas can be grown as dense screening or privacy hedges. Trim them regularly to keep them at the desired size and promote bushy growth.  

Yes, Bougainvilleas are humidity and salt tolerant and can handle direct or in-direct salt winds. 

Bougainvilleas do best in frost-free temperate to tropical areas. In cooler climates, once established they can tolerate light frosts, but may lose their leaves during winter and re-sprout in spring. Young plants can be protected from frost with frost or shade cloth. In frosty areas, potted Bougainvilleas can be moved to a protected location during winter.   

Most Bougainvilleas have thorns, though dwarf varieties have smaller thorns. Thornless varieties may become available in Australia over the coming years.  

The spectacular flowers of Bougainvilleas are actually called 'bracts'. The true flowers are a group of three small white flowers in the centre of the large bracts.  

Bougainvilleas are tough plants and fortunately don't suffer from too many issues.

Bougainvilleas don't like a wet root system so avoid over-watering and very heavy soils. Excessive water can cause the leaves to yellow and drop from the plant. Reduce watering or move the plant to a position with better drainage.