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Bougainvillea arborea

Tree Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea arborea is a relatively new introduction. There is actually very little reliable information available on the details of the growth habits of this plant. Being a Bougainvillea, it does have some characteristics that are certain: Its tropical and doesn't do well with temperatures below freezing. The flower is very tiny, but the bracts surrounding the flower produce an amazing display of color from late spring through early winter. It is a drought resistant plant once established, and does well being root bound in a container.

This Bougainvillea has been given a common name of "Tree Bougainvillea" for a very good reason. It likes to grow in a tree form, not as a rambling vine, which is a characteristic that is common to all other Bougainvillea. The picture on the left shows a tree in bloom that is around 30 foot in height. Sadly, it is between 2 other trees so it did not get to form a canopy with a natural spread. Even with half of the canopy hidden by the tree in front of it, you can see what a spectacular display of lavender flowers that this plant produces.(so sorry for such a non-descript picture) The trunk is about 8 inches in diameter, and branched in to 2 main leaders at 10 feet. The owner tells me the tree has never been pruned, and is in the neighborhood of 8 years old. (call it a fast grower)

The picture on the right is of a bush grown as a standard and is around 5 years old. The difference is that the owner of the bush takes the hedge trimmer to it as soon as it stops blooming. He shapes it in to a ball, then touches it up again in late January or early February. Once it starts blooming, it is allowed to grow and produce flowers as it grows.

Another very nice oddity of this tree is that is virtually thornless. It is so nice to work with a Bougainvillea without getting your arms ripped apart by the thorns. It does have a few small thorns on new growth, but very few. Birds seem to like it for their nest. The bush in the picture has a new nest built every year just after it starts blooming. The bush has become so dense, because of the trimming every year, that you can't even see the nest until it is trimmed in early winter.

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