Gardens of Italy: Bougainvillea

8/26/2015

Bougainvillea in the world of botany is described as a "genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees with flower-like spring leaves near its flowers". But in Italy they simply describe the feeling, the romance of the country--by their loveliness, their sheer abundance and cascading lusciousness.

They are native to Brazil and Peru, which is why they do so well in the near tropical climate of Italy. Their spiky, thorny vines can grow up to 40 feet tall, rambling up the front of many historic and romatic structures all throughout Italy. They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year, or drop their leaves in areas with a dry season. The source of the stunning colors is not actually from the flowers of the plant. Each cluster of three tiny white flowers is surrounded by three or six colored leafy bracts--the source of the colors. They can be pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow.

Enjoy this selection of amazing climbers...

--Jerry Finzi

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your gardening friends... ciao!

3 Comments

Maureen Paton

3/10/2020 05:23:25 pm

The photos are absolutely lovely of the bourgainvillea.
It would be good to know the varieties that you have shown and maybe could name them underneath the photo perhaps.
Just a thought.

Riccardo

5/15/2022 07:08:05 pm

I realize this is a rather old post about bougainvillea in Italy, but I have a question. You say the plant drops its leaves in areas with a dry season. Our bougainvillea is in a flower box about 40 cm x 15 cm. It dropped its leaves over the winter and is slow to re-foliate. Lucca, Tuscany, is certainly not dry in winter. Do you have any advice? Should we expect this every year?

Jerry Finzi

5/19/2022 02:29:10 pm

Ciao Ricardo,

You have two factors against you... First, I am sure that Lucca gets much colder winters than warmer climates like Campania or Sicily. Secondly, a window box does not allow much space for root development, which would be essential for any perennial plant to come back after a cold winter. If you really need to keep it in your window box planter, consider methods of keeping it warmer during cold winter periods... wrapping with burlap, covering with straw, etc. You should wrap the container, too. The roots are most important. Otherwise, keep in a place next to a stone wall with protection from prevailing winter winds.... and make sure it still gets sunlight, but during winter keep it lightly watered--a bit dry. As spring comes along, start to water and as leaves emerge, start fertilizing... some nitrogen at first for leaves... then potassium for flowers. Buona fortuna!

Gardens of Italy: Bougainvillea

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