# bougainvilleas (*Bougainvillea*) Bougainvilleas are colorful flowers that bloom in bright shades of pink, purple, and orange. They grow on climbing vines and can make gardens look beautiful and cheerful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Bougainvillea, Bougainvillea Glabra, Bougainvillea Vine ![bougainvilleas](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424636/objects/3790.jpg) ## Appearance The bougainvilleas has vibrant, papery 'flowers' that come in dazzling shades of purple, pink, red, orange, and white. These colorful parts are actually modified leaves called bracts, which surround a small, cream-colored true flower, making it visually distinct from many other flowering plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Angiosperms - **Class:** Eudicots - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Nyctaginaceae - **Genus:** Bougainvillea ## Interesting facts - Bougainvilleas can live for many decades, some even over a hundred years old! - Its colorful 'petals' are actually special leaves, much like a protective, showy disguise! - Some types of bougainvillea can be pruned and shaped into unique bonsai trees! - The first bougainvillea was discovered in Brazil in 1768 by a French botanist! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Conqueror:** Bougainvilleas can grow long, thorny stems that help it climb high to reach sunlight, acting like a natural ladder. - **Drought Defender:** Bougainvilleas has adapted to dry conditions by needing very little water once established, helping it survive arid spells. - **Thorny Guardian:** Bougainvilleas possess sharp thorns along its stems that deter hungry animals from nibbling its leaves and shoots. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Bougainvilleas uses its brilliant, colorful bracts to attract bees and hummingbirds, guiding them to its tiny true flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-1200 cm - **Spread:** 50-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round in tropical climates; summer and fall in temperate zones - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit tiny flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Hummingbirds are attracted to colorful bracts. - **Eats:** Cotton leafworm (*Spodoptera litura*) — Larvae can occasionally feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bougainvilleas have thorns, so be careful not to touch the stems. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bougainvilleas? 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 bougainvilleas? 50-1200 cm ### How wide does bougainvilleas spread? 50-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on bougainvilleas? 0.5-1 cm ### When does bougainvilleas bloom? Year-round in tropical climates; summer and fall in temperate zones ### Is bougainvilleas edible? No ### Is bougainvilleas toxic? Mild ### What is bougainvilleas's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-presidio-de-santa-barbara-state-historic-park) — California, US · Historic Site - [Serra Mesa Community Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/serra-mesa-community-park) — California, US · Park - [Aoshima Subtropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aoshima-subtropical-botanical-garden) — Kyushu, JP · Park - [Ocean Expo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ocean-expo-park) — Okinawa, JP · Park - [Hallim Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hallim-park) — KR · Park [View all places to see bougainvilleas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bougainvilleas) ## Watch - [Play video: bougainvilleas](https://www.snappit.app/videos/bougainvilleas) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=1GW-n9-uwtY) ## 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*) --- Source: [Bougainvilleas: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bougainvilleas)