Plant library · Hedges · Terrace · Green belt
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea, called Kagaz ka phool in Hindi for its papery bracts, is a thorny climbing shrub that handles heat and drought better than almost any other flowering plant grown in India. The colour comes from bracts around tiny white flowers, in magenta, red, orange, pink, white and mixed shades. It flowers most heavily in the dry months and needs sun, sharp drainage and restraint with water.
Bougainvillea spectabilis / B. glabra hybrids · Kagaz ka phool · Baganbilash · Kagithapoo
Size
1–3 m as a pruned shrub or hedge; climbing plants can cover 6 m or more of wall or pergola
Growth
Fast
Leaf
Evergreen
Sun
Full sun, at least six hours a day; flowers poorly in shade
Water
Low once established. Let the soil dry between waterings; overwatering is the most common reason for poor flowering.
Soil
Well-drained soil of any type, including poor and rocky soil; waterlogging causes root rot
01
How to recognise Bougainvillea
Family Nyctaginaceae
- aBracts are papery and brightly coloured, usually in groups of three, each surrounding a small tubular white or cream flower.
- bLeaves are alternate, oval to heart-shaped, 4–10 cm long; some varieties have variegated leaves.
- cStems are woody and armed with sharp, curved thorns at the leaf joints.
- dHabit is a vigorous scrambling climber that can be trained as a shrub, hedge, standard or bonsai.
- eFlowering comes in flushes, heaviest in the dry season from late winter to early summer, with a lighter flush after the monsoon.
02
Bougainvillea in your city
How it grows in each city we work in, and what we do differently there.
Flowers heavily from winter to early summer. Cut back after the main flush and hold back water to bring on the next one.
Handles the 45°C summer easily. Frost in December and January can cause leaf drop and tip damage, which it grows out of by spring.
Tolerates heat and dry spells. On black cotton soil, plant in a raised pit with sand and gravel so water does not stand after rain.
Established plants come through the winter, though frost in December and January causes leaf drop and some shoot dieback. Prune in February once the cold passes.
Tolerates salt air, so it suits sea-facing balconies. Heavy monsoon rain causes leaf spot and bract drop; flowering returns in the dry months.
Flowers for much of the year in the mild climate. Keep watering light to avoid lush leafy growth.
Well suited to the hot, dry climate and often at its best in the summer months.
One of the few flowering plants that stays reliable through 45°C heat on terraces, provided pots drain well.
The long wet monsoon encourages leaves over bracts and invites fungal leaf spot. Plant in the sunniest spot with sharp drainage and water sparingly.
03
Bougainvillea for industrial green belts
Where it goes in a three-row belt
Boundary side ← → factory side. This plant: inner low row.
Bougainvillea suits the inner low row of an industrial green belt, especially along boundary walls and roads. It tolerates heat, dust, poor soil and long dry periods, and its thorny growth adds a barrier along the fence line.
Planted 1–1.5 m apart and pruned once or twice a year, it forms a dense flowering screen. It needs full sun, so it works best on the open edge of the belt, not under a closed tree canopy.
Which species go into a green belt, and at what spacing and number of rows, is set by the unit's consent to establish, consent to operate or environmental clearance. Those conditions govern the planting; a shrub row like this is added where they allow and does not replace the trees they require.
04
Where it fits
- A thorny boundary hedge or security screen along compound walls.
- Terrace and balcony pots where heat and dry conditions rule out softer plants.
- Pergolas, arches and walls, trained as a climber.
- The inner low row of an industrial green belt and road medians.
- Standards and bonsai for entrance planters.
05
Care
- Pruning: bougainvillea flowers on new growth, so cut back after each main flush to encourage new shoots. Wear thick gloves because of the thorns.
- Feeding: use a low-nitrogen, higher-potash fertiliser in the flowering season; high nitrogen produces leaves and few bracts.
- Watering in pots: water deeply, then wait until the top 5 cm of mix is dry. Mild water stress in the dry season encourages flowering.
- Pot size and repotting: use a container at least 45 cm wide and deep for a shrub on a terrace, with a gritty, well-drained mix. The roots dislike disturbance, so repot only when needed and expect some leaf drop afterwards.
- Terrace wind: tie climbing stems to a frame or trellis, because strong wind tears long shoots and knocks off bracts. Heavy pots help against tipping.
06
Common problems
- No flowers, all leaves — caused by too much water, too much nitrogen or too little sun. Cut back water, switch to a potash-rich feed and give it full sun.
- Leaf spot — brown or purple spots on leaves in the monsoon. Remove fallen leaves, improve air flow by thinning and avoid wetting the foliage.
- Caterpillars — chewed leaves and bracts, sometimes with small green loopers on the shoots. Hand-pick or use a Bt-based spray.
- Sudden leaf drop — usually after repotting, a cold snap or overwatering. Keep conditions steady and it will usually releaf in a few weeks.
07
Questions
Why is my bougainvillea not flowering?
The common causes are too much water, too much nitrogen fertiliser and less than six hours of sun. Water less, feed with a potash-rich fertiliser, move it to full sun and prune after each flush to push new flowering shoots.
What size pot does bougainvillea need on a terrace?
At least 45 cm wide and deep for a shrub, larger for a climber on a pergola. The pot must drain well; a slightly root-bound plant often flowers better.
When should bougainvillea be pruned?
Right after a main flowering flush. In north India, do the main prune in February after the frost season; light trims can follow each flush.
Why are my bougainvillea leaves falling?
Leaf drop usually follows overwatering, root disturbance during repotting or a cold spell. Let the soil dry, keep the plant in sun and it normally puts out new leaves.
Also used for hedges
Guides that mention Bougainvillea
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