# Bougainvillea Bush (*Bougainvillea glabra*)

Bougainvillea Bushes are known for their vibrant, paper-like flowers that can be pink, purple, or orange. They love the sun and bloom all summer!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical areas

![Bougainvillea Bush](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426406/objects/5054.jpg)

## Appearance

The Bougainvillea Bush has vibrant, papery 'flowers' that are actually modified leaves called bracts. These can be brilliant pink, purple, red, orange, or white, vividly contrasting with its thorny, woody stems and dark green leaves.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Angiosperms
- **Class:** Eudicots
- **Order:** Myrtales
- **Family:** Nyctaginaceae
- **Genus:** Bougainvillea

## Interesting facts

- Bougainvillea can grow so vigorously it can cover entire buildings in warm climates!
- Its 'flowers' are actually colorful leaves called bracts, not true petals!
- The plant is named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a famous French explorer.
- They are often used to create stunning, natural archways and privacy screens in gardens.

## Special abilities

- **Thorn Shield:** Bougainvillea Bush has sharp thorns along its stems that help it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves.
- **Drought Master:** Bougainvillea Bush can survive long dry spells by adapting its leaves to reduce water loss, helping it thrive in arid places.
- **Color Beacon:** Bougainvillea Bush has bright, colorful bracts that act like flashy advertisements, helping it attract insects and birds for pollination.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-500 cm
- **Spread:** 100-400 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round in tropical zones, summer to fall in temperate regions
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits colorful bracts for nectar
- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — sips nectar from the small flowers

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bougainvillea Bush?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Bougainvillea Bush?

100-500 cm

### How wide does Bougainvillea Bush spread?

100-400 cm

### How big are the flowers on Bougainvillea Bush?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Bougainvillea Bush bloom?

Year-round in tropical zones, summer to fall in temperate regions

### Is Bougainvillea Bush edible?

No

### Is Bougainvillea Bush toxic?

Mild

### What is Bougainvillea Bush's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Bougainvillea Bush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bougainvillea-bush)