Bougainvillea bonsai

Bougainvillea Bonsai Care

Bougainvillea

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Zones 9 to 11, outdoor. A genus of 18 species from South America, in the four-o'clock family.

Nyctaginaceae (the four-o'clock family) · Tropical evergreen woody vine or shrub, trained as a flowering bonsai

At a glance

Type
Tropical
Leaves
Evergreen
USDA zones
9 to 11
Indoor or outdoor
Outdoor
Growth rate
Fast
Buds on old wood
Yes
Bonsai popularity
Tier 1

Close-up photo reference

Compare your tree against these to confirm the species and spot problems early.

Close view of Bougainvillea leaves
Foliage / leaf detail, Prahlad balaji · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bougainvillea in flower
Flower, Waran R Samay · CC BY 4.0

Bougainvillea quick reference

USDA zones9 to 11 is NC State's in-ground figure for B. glabra [2]; NC State's genus page gives 9b to 10b [1]; Bonsai Mirai keeps a potted tree outdoors all year only in zone 10 and above [14]
Indoor / outdoorOutdoor in full sun through the growing season [12]; in cold climates it winters indoors in a bright room [12] [14]; Bonsai Mirai says not long-term inside [14], though Yorkshire Bonsai grows it inside in the UK [16]
LightFull sun, 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day [14]; it will not flower without direct sun [4]
WaterPrefers drier soil [14]: water thoroughly once the soil gets dry [12], let it dry slightly between waterings [14] [16], never let it stay soggy [12]; Bonsai Empire prefers water of pH 6 to 6.5 and avoids very hard (calcareous) water [12]
SoilWell-draining mix [12] [13]; Bonsai Mirai uses an inorganic substrate [14]
RepotSmall trees every 2 or 3 years, large ones every 3 to 5 [12]; every 3 to 4 years [13]; every 2 to 3 years [16]
FrostNone [14]; keep above 45°F (7°C) [14]; Yorkshire Bonsai's ideal is above 50°F (10°C) [16]; Bonsai Empire winters it at 50 to 59°F (10 to 15°C) [12]
Mature height10 to 20 ft for B. glabra [2] and 15 to 40 ft for B. spectabilis [3], both in the ground; no source gives a bonsai size
Growth rateFast: Bonsai Empire calls it fast growing [12]; NC State rates both main species rapid [2] [3]
Season of interestColored bracts from summer to autumn [12] [13]; BCI says heaviest in winter and early spring [15]
Leaf reductionNot rated by the sources we checked
Main risksMain risks, not ranked by any source: root rot from constant wetness [12] [14]; frost and cold [14]; too little light [12] [14]

Overview & Character

Bougainvillea is a genus of 18 species from South America, in the four-o'clock family [1]. B. glabra and B. spectabilis are both native to eastern and southern Brazil [9] [10]. Bonsai Clubs International names B. glabra, the lesser bougainvillea, as the species most used for bonsai [15]. But the trade offers many species, cultivars and varieties [8], and hybrids exist, such as B. x buttiana, an artificial cross of B. glabra and B. peruviana [11]. This guide therefore covers the genus as grown for bonsai.

It is grown for the brightly colored bracts around its small flowers [1], and it grows fast, takes pruning well and suits most bonsai styles [12]. It is not easy: it demands exact timing and careful watering [14], and it is frost tender [13].

Identification

Foliage. Thin, simple leaves, elliptical to heart shaped with pointed tips and smooth margins [1], set alternately [12]. B. glabra leaves are 3 to 6 in long [2]; Bonsai4Me gives up to about 5 in (13 cm) [13].

Bark & trunk. The thorny green stems turn woody with age [1]. Long, thin thorns often sit at the leaf axils [1], 1 to 2 in long [5].

Growth habit / form. A woody, scrambling vine [1] that can be trained as a shrub in a container [1].

Flowers / fruit. The true flower is small, tubular and usually white; each cluster of three flowers sits inside three to six bright bracts in pink, purple, red, orange, white or yellow [1]. Flowering is on new growth [1]. The fruit is a narrow five-lobed achene [1].

Look-alikes & how to tell them apart: The two main species look alike. B. glabra has five-angled floral tubes and short bracts [2], smooth leaves and fewer thorns [5]. B. spectabilis has thorny stems and thick, large, hairy leaves [5], with long, soft hairs on the branches [3].

Climate & USDA Zone

The zone figures are for plants in the ground. The record's 9 to 11 is NC State's figure for B. glabra (9a to 11b) [2]; NC State gives 9b to 11b for B. spectabilis [3], and its genus page gives 9b to 10b [1]. Bonsai Mirai keeps a potted tree outdoors all year only in zone 10 and above [14]. Colder than that, it is an outdoor tree in the growing season that winters inside [12] [14]; Bonsai Mirai does not keep it inside long-term [14], while Yorkshire Bonsai grows it inside in the UK because of cool summer nights [16].

Winter minimums differ: above 45°F (7°C) at all times [14]; ideally above 50°F (10°C) [16]; or a cool, well-lit room at 50 to 59°F (10 to 15°C), which Bonsai Empire says is not easy to achieve in many houses [12]. Bonsai Mirai instead winters it somewhere bright and warm with little water [14]. BCI says plants usually survive dieback from a freeze but then hold back their blooms for a while [15].

Light

Full sun is essential: Bonsai Mirai aims for 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day in the growing season [14], and flowers need full sun and heat [12]. Without direct sun it will not flower [4]; too much shade or water holds back blooming [5].

Watering

On the dry side, but not bone dry. Bonsai Empire waters thoroughly when the soil gets dry and warns that constant wetness brings root rot and death [12]. Bonsai Mirai says it prefers drier air and soil [14]. Yorkshire Bonsai lets the soil dry slightly in summer and keeps it only slightly moist in winter [16]. BCI advises sparse watering and good drainage [15]. Bonsai Empire prefers water of pH 6 to 6.5 and says to avoid very hard (calcareous) water [12].

Drought tolerance is a landscape rating for plants in the ground [2] [3]; in containers, regular watering helps flowering [6].

Soil & Root Care

Use a free-draining mix [12] [13]; Bonsai Mirai uses an inorganic substrate against root rot [14].

Repotting advice varies. Bonsai Empire repots small trees every two or three years and large ones every three to five [12]. Bonsai4Me repots every three to four years in spring, prunes roots lightly, and lets the tree get rootbound to encourage flowering [13]. Yorkshire Bonsai repots every 2 to 3 years [16]. BCI repots in spring [15]; Bonsai Mirai in late spring or early summer, then shields the tree from sun and wind for 1 to 2 weeks [14].

Feeding

In the growing season, Bonsai4Me feeds low nitrogen every two weeks [13]; Bonsai Mirai a balanced feed every 2 to 3 weeks, then higher phosphorus for flowers, never heavy nitrogen [14]; Bonsai Empire solid organic monthly or liquid weekly [12]; Yorkshire Bonsai a balanced liquid every 2 to 4 weeks [16]. BCI feeds low nitrogen once in spring and perhaps once in fall [15], while Mississippi State feeds container plants at least weekly in summer and fall [6].

UF/IFAS warns that too much nitrogen gives leaves instead of blooms [4]; BCI cites University of Florida research favoring high nitrogen with short days (15 hours of darkness in 24) [15].

Pruning & Styling

Bougainvillea flowers on new growth [1] [14], so time pruning around the bloom. Bonsai Empire cuts shoots to two leaves after flowering, prunes branches in autumn or winter, and avoids heavy summer pinching [12]. Bonsai Mirai prunes after flowering, never just before a bloom cycle [14]. Bonsai4Me trims long growth all season and hard prunes in early spring [13]. Yorkshire Bonsai cuts shoots of 5 to 6 leaves back to two or three [16]. UF/IFAS prunes in late winter or early spring; late summer or early fall pruning may mean fewer flowers the next winter [4]. Bonsai4Me suits it to all forms except formal upright, broom and literati [13].

It buds from old wood after hard pruning [12]. Seal cuts, because it rots easily [13] [15].

Wire young shoots and twigs only; older branches are stiff and snap easily [12], so Bonsai Mirai sets movement early with light wire [14]. Watch the thorns while wiring [12].

Seasonal Calendar

Care calendar by month

Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, shift every month by six.

Propagation & Cuttings

Ease: Easy from semi-hardwood cuttings, says Bonsai Mirai [14]. Best methods: cuttings and air layering [12] [14].

NC State's genus page calls the plant sterile, grown from stem cuttings [1]. Bonsai Empire prefers semi-hardwood or root cuttings in spring and summer [12]; Bonsai4Me air layers in autumn or spring [13]. Seed is also listed as a method [2] [3] [5].

Pests

A healthy tree kept out of wet soil and given good light resists pests; weak plants attract aphids, scale, mealybugs, whitefly and caterpillars [12]. Spider mites are common too [14] [16], and Bonsai4Me lists them among problems indoors [13].

The bougainvillea looper, a caterpillar up to 1 in long, scallops leaf edges and can strip a plant [7]. Bt controls young loopers; spinosad works on all ages [7].

Disease, Fungus & Infection

Bonsai Mirai rates bougainvillea generally disease resistant, but prone to root rot when overwatered [14]. Weak plants can get powdery mildew [12]. Cut off wilted flowers so they do not rot [12]. BCI also lists chlorosis, a mineral deficiency [15].

Most Common Causes of Death

No source we checked ranks these. They are the main risks the sources describe, in no particular order:

Toxicity, Safety & Handling

UC ANR says the sap is mildly toxic if swallowed in large amounts, and thorn punctures can cause dermatitis from a coating on the thorns [8]. Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when working on it [8]. We found no ASPCA listing, so this guide makes no claim about pets.

Sources

  1. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Bougainvillea
  2. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Bougainvillea glabra
  3. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Bougainvillea spectabilis
  4. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Bougainvillea
  5. UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County: Bougainvillea in shade with no blooms
  6. Mississippi State University Extension: Bougainvillea perform their best in containers
  7. UC Statewide IPM Program: Bougainvillea Looper
  8. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources: Plant Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes
  9. Kew Plants of the World Online: Bougainvillea glabra
  10. Kew Plants of the World Online: Bougainvillea spectabilis
  11. Kew Plants of the World Online: Bougainvillea x buttiana
  12. Bonsai Empire: Bougainvillea bonsai care
  13. Bonsai4Me: Bougainvillea glabra
  14. Bonsai Mirai: Bougainvillea Bonsai
  15. Bonsai Clubs International: Bougainvillea glabra
  16. Yorkshire Bonsai: Bougainvillea Bonsai Care Guide

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