Bougainvillea Plants

Choosing Bougainvillea for Your Climate and Space

Choosing bougainvillea starts with your growing zone and the shape you want. This collection has bougainvillea for sale as climbing vines, compact shrubs, and small trees, in pink, purple, white, orange, and red. It suits gardeners in warm climates who already want bougainvillea and need help narrowing down which one.

Match Bougainvillea to Your Growing Zone

Bougainvillea is among the tropical plants suited to warm climates, and the varieties in this collection are listed for growing zones 9 to 11, with some limited to zones 10 and 11. Confirm your USDA hardiness zone first. Trees.com backs eligible plants with the Alive & Thrive Guarantee™, a one-year replacement guarantee that does not cover plants used outside their recommended zones or frost and freeze damage.

Bougainvillea Tree, Shrub, or Vine: Choosing a Form

Several varieties are offered in more than one form. A bougainvillea vine covers trellises, fences, and arbors like other climbing vines, though its stems need to be tied to the support because they don't cling on their own. A shrub grows fuller and lower, which suits borders and tight spaces. A bougainvillea tree is trained on a single trunk with a rounded top of color, which makes a focal point near an entry.

Mature height ranges from under 4 feet to as much as 40 feet, so compare the listed height with your trellis, wall, or planting spot. Gardeners who want a second flowering climber nearby can compare jasmine plants, which grow in many of the same warm zones.

Care Basics for a Bougainvillea Plant

A bougainvillea plant handles heat well, and many varieties are drought-tolerant once established. The stems carry sharp thorns, so plant away from walkways and wear thick gloves when you tie or prune. Trees.com Plant Experts can help match a form and size to your zone and space by phone or video chat.