Bougainvillea glabra Paper Flower This climber is a native of Brazil, in the region of Rio de Janeiro, and is now found all over the tropics. It is evergreen in warm climates, but frost reduces it to pale grey twigs. The wild species has purple bracts, in summer, but garden varieties and hybrids bear larger bracts in colours from white to pink, orange, and yellow, and some have extra bracts so that they appear to be double flowered.
Cultivation Grow in fertile soil against a fence, pergola, or wall where it can have plenty of space to develop. After each burst of flowering, trim plants; do any heavier pruning in early spring. Feed plants regularly if they are to flower well.
Height to 9m (30ft). USZ 9–11, surviving -6.5°C (20°F) for short periods only. Requires water during summer. Bougainvillea ‘Variegata’ A variety of B.glabra, with variegated grey-green and cream foliage, and small purple bracts.