A shrub-form bougainvillea that mounds rather than climbs, with papery bracts that open gold and age to salmon-pink. It thrives on heat and full sun with little water, giving long-lasting color to hot walls, slopes and containers.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide through its first season. Once established, let the soil dry between waterings. Too much water produces leaves instead of color.
Pruning
Prune to shape and control spread. It handles hard pruning once established. After a freeze, wait until new growth begins before cutting out damaged stems.
Planting
The roots are very fine and do not hold the soil together. Handle the root ball gently when planting, and avoid moving it once established.
Cold
Hard frosts can burn it back, but it recovers quickly with warm weather. A south or west wall offers extra warmth.
How our designers use it
Hot walls and slopes
It thrives where reflected heat would wilt other flowering shrubs, softening block walls and sunny banks with color.
Containers and raised planters
Its compact, mounding habit suits large pots and planters on sunny patios.
Low color borders
Our designers use it as a loose, low border where a vining bougainvillea would be too big.
Good to know
Around the pool
The papery bracts drop and blow around much of the year, and the stems are thorny. We generally keep it away from the water’s edge and from walkways.
Thorns
Thorn pricks and sap can irritate skin. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning.
