Family: Nyctaginaceae
Common name: Bougainvillea
All hedges should ideally be made of this wonderful plant, that flowers year round in warm climates. The thorns prevent humans or animals from attempting to cross the barrier. Bougainvillea can be trimmed and kept at a height of few inches. Left unpruned, they can climb on structures or other plants and each a height of over 10 meters.
Did you know that the actual flower of bougainvillea is mostly always white, surrounded by brightly colored bracts or modified leaves? These bracts can be white, pink, purple, violet, deep pink, orange, red or yellow. There are over 15 species and 300 varieties of this wondrous plant.
The tendency to flower in abundance makes it a favorite in gardens and roadsides alike, flowing over compound walls or climbing up the side of the house reaching the terrace and carpeting it with flowers. It’s not a good indoor plant, as it needs at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight to produce flowers. Occasional nourishment with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer will yield good results.
Propagation is from stem cuttings.
Photo Courtesy: love4gardening
