Purple Bougainvillea
by Robert Bales
Title
Purple Bougainvillea
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
The Fine Art America watermark will NOT appear on any artwork you purchase
We have these as a shade plant along our house in Yuma Arizona and the morning sun sure bring out the beautiful color.
Bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. Locarno in Switzerland, with its mild Mediterranean climate, is famous for its bougainvilleas.
Although it is frost-sensitive and hardy in U.S. Hardiness Zones 9b and 10, bougainvillea can be used as a houseplant or hanging basket in cooler climates. In the landscape, it makes an excellent hot season plant, and its drought tolerance makes it ideal for warm climates year-round. Its high salt tolerance makes it a natural choice for color in coastal regions. It can be pruned into a standard, but is also grown along fence lines, on walls, in containers and hanging baskets, and as a hedge or an accent plant. Its long arching thorny branches bear heart-shaped leaves and masses of papery bracts in white, pink, orange, purple, and burgundy. Many cultivars, including double-flowered and variegated, are available.
Many of today's bougainvillea are the result of interbreeding among only three out of the eighteen South American species recognized by botanists. Currently, there are over 300 varieties of bougainvillea around the world. Because many of the hybrids have been crossed over several generations, it is difficult to identify their respective origins. Natural mutations seem to occur spontaneously throughout the world; wherever large numbers of plants are being produced, bud-sports will occur. This had led to multiple names for the same cultivar (or variety) and has added to the confusion over the names of bougainvillea cultivars.
The growth rate of bougainvilleas varies from slow to rapid, depending on the variety. They tend to flower all year round in equatorial regions. Elsewhere, they are seasonal, with bloom cycles typically four to six weeks. Bougainvilleas grow best in dry soil in very bright full sun and with frequent fertilization; but they require little water once established, and in fact will not flourish if over-watered. They can be easily propagated via tip cuttings.
The bougainvillea is also a very attractive species for Bonsai enthusiasts, due to their ease of training and their radiant flowering during the spring. They can be kept as indoor houseplants in temperate regions and kept small by bonsai techniques.
Uploaded
March 27th, 2017
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Viewed 1,308 Times - Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 03/29/2024 at 11:00 AM
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Comments (26)
Hanny Heim
Awesome image, Robert ! My patio in Florida is all planted with this original Bougainvilleas, one of my favorite plants !
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Hanny for the nice comment!! We have them all along our side patio!! (40 Feet)
Lucinda Walter
Congratulations! Your beautiful work is featured in the Beauty of Arizona group l/f
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Lucinda for the very nice feature in your group and the LF!! It is grearly appreciated!!
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Michael Mirijan
This wonderful picture is featured on the homepage of the "Pictures for Present" group.