Leaf

David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea glabra Choisy

Also known as: Paper flower

Family: Nyctaginaceae

Climber of 4 to 12 m depending on climate

Planted on a pergola or in a pot, mild Mediterranean climate

Flowering: May – October

Full sun

Not very hardy, dislikes frost below -5°C, grown in pots and brought indoors in winter away from the Mediterranean coast

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

The brilliant colours of bougainvillea do not come from its tiny white flowers but from the large coloured bracts surrounding them — a case where what is mistaken for petals is in fact modified foliage.

🍃 Leaves

Evergreen or semi-evergreen, ovate, slightly hairy

🌸 Flowers

Tiny, white, surrounded by spectacular coloured bracts (magenta, pink, orange or white depending on the variety)

🍎 Fruits

Small achene, rarely formed in cultivation

🪵 Bark

Thorny climber, attaching itself by its recurved thorns

🗺️ Distribution

Native to South America; grown in France on the Mediterranean coast or in pots elsewhere

🐝 Value for pollinators

Inconspicuous but nectar-producing flowers, visited by bees despite their small size

✂️ Horticultural uses

Spectacular ornamental climber grown for its very showy coloured bracts, emblematic of Mediterranean gardens

⚠️ Possible toxicity

Thorns may cause wounds; sap mildly irritant

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

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