GardenLine | House Plants | Bougainvillea - the Canadian Connection

If you have a large sunny window and a yearning for a houseplant with a sub-tropical lushness and a Canadian connection, try Bougainvillea, which is also known as paper flower.

The Canadian Connection:

Native to the coast of Brazil, Bougainvillea was discovered by French botanist Philibert Commerson in the 1760's. Described by admirers as a lunatic, a compulsive collector, and a magpie of natural plants, Commerson was indeed possessed by his desire for botanical specimens. Never a good sailor, he noted in his journal "My dinner and supper are but loans, which I am exact in repaying one hour or half an hour afterwards." Yet, he persisted on his voyage around the world.

And the Canadian connection? Commerson named the bougainvillea after his friend and captain, Louis A. de Bougainville, a noted lawyer, mathematician, and explorer, who joined the French army and served with Montcalm in Canada so that he would not have to follow his father's profession of notary!

Species and Hybrids:

Bougainvillea is most readily available as a vigorous, woody vine although it can also be found as a more dwarf, busy shrub of 45-61 cm (18-24 in.). The flowers are actually 3 fused bracts, or modified leaves, which persist for several weeks. The real flowers are small and cream-coloured and are found within the bracts.

The climber is called Bougainvillea glabra. It can reach 3 m (10 ft) or more, is definitely spiny, and flowers when fairly young. It produces purple bracts in later summer and fall. Two variegated climbing types are also found. Bougainvillea glabra 'Harrisii' has cream-coloured bracts and variegation, while 'Sandevana variegata' has white bracts and variegation.

Bougainvillea buttiana is more compact and is usually in shrub form. It is recommended if space is limited. Some of the hybrids include: 'Mrs. Butt' (also called 'Crimson Lake', which has rose-crimson bracts and can live to a very old age; 'Brilliant', which has orange-copper bracts; 'Temple Fire', which is brick red; and 'Kiltie Campbell', with orange bracts.

Care

Bougainvilleas demand a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight and bright indirect light at other times. Without good light they will not flower and they may lose their leaves.

They do well in normal room temperature. This can be lower in winter but never below 10C.

Water moderately during their period of active growth (spring through fall), allowing the upper 2.5 cm (i in.) of soil to dry out between waterings but never the entire root ball. If they become too dry they will shed their leaves. They will need less water in winter and should have good drainage at all times.

Pot in a loam-based media with added peat moss. They can be repotted each spring up to a maximum of a 20 cm (8 in.) pot, after which they should be top dressed annually with the same type of potting mixture.

Fertilize them every 2 weeks during their period of active growth with a complete soluble houseplant fertilizer with micronutrients (such as 20-20-20). Follow the label directions.

Pruning and Propagation:

The climbing types should be trained on a lattice or hoop. Up to a third of the main stem can be pruned off in later winter or early spring; prune the side branches to within 2.5 cm (1 in.) of the main stem.

The dwarf, shrub types will need little in the way of pruning.

Bougainvillea is propagated by taking 7.6-15 cm (3-6 in. cuttings of the new growth in spring. Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone and place them in a mixture of 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 perlite, coarse sand, or vermiculite. Water, cover with a plastic bag to retain humidity and place in bright but indirect light at about 21C. Rooting should occur within 8 weeks.

Williams is a specialist in horticulture with the Extension Division. This column is provided as a service by the Extension Division and the Department of Horticulture Science, University of Saskatchewan.

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Sustainable horticultural information, offered free of charge to the public with the support of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division, the Department of Plant Sciences and the Provincial Government.