Thursday, April 26, 2012

Not just another flower

My original title was Another Flower. Then I realized that it is not just another flower! 


The ubiquitous bougainvillea, is really found everywhere, not only in the tropics but also in subtropical climates. It has variety of colors which really fascinates everybody. There are also plant characteristics which make it either as upright in pots, climbing in trellises or fences and hanging in ledges and verandas. I have also posted  some of the varieties in old posts. Whenever i see one in the vicinity, i never fail to take some photos, no matter how common it has become.


 This is mother's forgotten plant at the corner. But it is very tolerant of our extremely hot dry season. It may dry some branches but coming rainy season, branches will come up again. The color above is maybe the commonest of the colors, but it is nonetheless lovely!
 This is a variegated variety at the side of my aunt's house. The leaves are attractive being variegated but the flowers are beautiful too. It needs some trimming already, but it has already gained compact growth with the semblance of a roof. A chair or two can already be put under it. You will notice that water sprouts above, are purely green in color, unlike the old variegated ones.


This variety is not very prolific in flowering, maybe because flowers are not its most attractive trait. But a closer look shows us the also varied colors of the flowers. There are pinks, pink with whites, greenish whites and pure whites! 


Knowledge of the branch characteristics to pick for propagation will give us the best characteristics we want. We can even separate these characteristics in our future materials. But that is negating the beautiful characteristics of this plant. Chimera is another term for variegation. If we want to produce the dominant characters as in red flowers and green leaves, then the purely green leaves of the water sprouts will do. Getting the mostly red colored flowering stems will produce dominantly red with white variegation in flowers and mainly variegated leaves, plus occasionally pure green. However, getting the stems with purely white flowers will give us mostly white but with occasional red and variegated flowers. Of course leaves are also variegated with slightly occasional green. 


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33 comments:

  1. Very interesting post, Andrea. Bougainvilleas are widespread here in Australia and they form quite amazing colourful displays. Lovely photos!

    Thank you for participating in Floral Friday Fotos!

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  2. Bougainvilleas are also revered here in Europe, doing well in mediterranean regions.

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  3. Bougainvilleas are wonderful flowering plants, except for those awful thorns. :-) I have three different ones, a salmon with hints of reddish purple, a reddish purple one and a white one with hints of pink and green. All are green leafed.

    Thanks for this informative post with lovely pictures.

    FlowerLady

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  4. It's beautiful but they aren't hardy here so they have to be kept in containers and taken inside over winter. Shame as they are so pretty.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  5. I look forward to holidaying in warm places so I can see Bougainvellea. Thats interesting information about propagating them. I suppose I could smuggle a cutting into my suitcase but I would have to grow it indoors :)

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  6. I am in America, zone 6. We can't grow Bougainvellea outdoors here, but I love seeing it in your gardens.

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  7. i love the vivid colors of bougainvilleas...they brighten up the area when they're in bloom.


    Fire Tree

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  8. Bougainvella is always beautiful. It's a shame it doesn't grow here, but I enjoy your photos. Thanks for the information as well.

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  9. These are great! Love the magenta color!

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  10. In our old house back home, we have them all over, and its all over the fence. They are unstoppable!

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  11. I have a 3 colour flowers bougainvillea in a pot now. It is still young. I love bougainvillea and they always reminds me of grandma.

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  12. I remember the first time I saw this plant along the highways of California and I thought it the most delight plant ever! If I had more sun, I'd grow one on my patio here in Texas as it can definitely take the heat.

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  13. while bougainvillea has become commonplace in nurseries here, the white variety is very difficult to find. we've been searching for years and when we found one, it died on us pretty quickly. i think it may have broken my hubby's heart a little that he hasn't actively pursued a replacement for the dead plant.

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  14. Bougainvillea is very popular in this country now --where the climate is good for it. I love it --especially that pink/red color. Wish we could grow it here --but our climate is not right. Gorgeous!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  15. This one is such a beauty, we have a few of them but now I have to look for the one like yours - thank you for sharing these special flowers

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  16. Bougainvillea is a wonderful flowering plant.
    Reminds on my last winter vacation in the sun:)
    Great pictures!!

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  17. Absolutely stunning! I love the bougainvillea. Unfortunately they are not hardy in our area, but I can enjoy yours!

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  18. Beautiful photos! My Mom had a big one but boy did she cuss at thoses thorns when pruning!!
    *hugs*deb

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  19. Too cold here for these and I do love seeing them when I travel to warmer climes.

    The canopy of leaves and flowers at your aunt's is gorgeous and looks so inviting.

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  20. DEFINITELY not just another flower. Bougainvillea are among my favorites!

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  21. I love bougainvillea as it reminded me of my childhood home!

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  22. Hi there!!:) Sorry it took me awhile to respond. Things have been very busy here and trying to find time to sit and write and read has been challenging. I can only do it at a night. But the weekend is here. Tomorrow, I'll have some coffee and read again!!!:) Bougainvillea is such a great plant waterwise because it doesn't use much of it once it's established and it can also take brutal desert sun here in Tucson. But it doesn't like to get too cold. Doesn't mind a prune every now and again....the only disadvantage of this plant is with the thorns. I love the variegated varieties. Hope you have a fabulous weekend!!! Kreesh:)

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  23. Beautiful flowers, lovely pictures....
    Greetings, Karin

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  24. Gorgeous shots and interesting info on the bougainvillea. :-) Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Those bracts always remind me of cerise crepe paper..........though as houseplants here they are difficult to keep on the plant without daily misting. My favourite colour is the peachy one though I'm sure they look far nicer growing in a garden like yours Andrea rather than having their stems wrapped around trellis and wire to keep them restrained as houseplants.

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  26. Bougainvillea is so lovely! Years ago we lived in a place where they would bloom in beautiful profusion. (Not so much where we live now.)

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  27. I do love this plant even though I canot grow it...I had not seen the variegated variety...that is gorgeous.

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  28. Ubiquitous in the tropics, but equally lovely no doubt...

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  29. I have enjoyed my visit today...good post!
    I wish I had more time to visit all of my favorites every time you all post!
    Thank you so much for linking in and sharing your post with my party today! I am sharing this post on my Tootsie Time Facebook page! Have a wonderful day!!!
    (¯`v´¯)
    `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
    ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

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  30. Your quite correct,Bougainvillea isn't just any old flower and it doesn't grow everywhere, well certainly not in these northerly shores. Enjoyed seeing it in your garden Andrea.

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  31. i really wish i could grow bougainvillea - it's gorgeous (but so expensive and is considered an annual here in washington state). popping over from another gardeners blog to say hello! i host a garden party on Thursday's & would love to see you share your posts and visit others too! Hope you are having a great week! xoox, tracie

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