Paperflower

(Bougainvillea glabra)

Paperflower (Bougainvillea glabra)

/

return to results
Previous Plant Next Plant

/

Bougainvillea glabra image
scroll forward scroll backward
scroll forward scroll backward
Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Summary

Bougainvillea glabra, commonly known as Paperflower, is an evergreen perennial vine or shrub native to Brazil, where it thrives in a variety of habitats including forest edges, coastal areas, and scrublands. It is a climbing shrub with thick, thorny stems and drooping branches that are glabrous or sparsely hairy, typically growing 3–3.5 m (10–12 ft) tall. The plant is known for its tiny white flowers that appear in clusters surrounded by colorful papery bracts in shades of pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow, which are most vibrant during the warmer months. These bracts are often mistaken for the flowers themselves and are highly ornamental.

Paperflower is celebrated for its vibrant bracts and is a popular ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens. It is used for adding color to wall-side borders, as a ground cover, or trained over trellises and fences. Bougainvillea glabra is heat and drought tolerant, frost sensitive, and requires full sunlight and well-drained soil to flower profusely. It is easily propagated by cuttings and is often grown in glasshouses in regions with frost. While it is low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils and pests such as aphids and caterpillars. It is potentially invasive outside its native range, so gardeners should consult local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Vine, Shrub
  • Height: 3-4 feet
  • Width: 1-3 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate, Rapid
  • Flower Color: Pink, Purple, Red
  • Flowering Season: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Low
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to forest edges, coastal areas, and scrublands in Brazil

Other Names

Common Names: Lesser Bougainvillea, Paper-Flower, Juvú, Três-Marias, Primavera, Buganvilia, Blank Trillingblomma, Kahle Bougainvillea, Trinitaria Roja, Guang Ye Zi Hua

Scientific Names: , Bougainvillea glabra, Bougainvillea arborea, Bougainvillea pomacea, Bougainvillea glabra var. typica, Bougainvillea glabra var. brachycarpa, Bougainvillea sanderiana, Bougainvillea brachycarpa, Bougainvillea glabra var. alba, Bougainvillea glabra var. obtusibracteata

GBIF Accepted Name: Bougainvillea glabra Choisy