WOW! I was definitely on the fence (no pun intended) about this plant, the Champagne Pink Bougainvillea has won me over!
Upon moving into our new home, I immediately knew that I wanted to create a Moon Garden adorned with an abundance of green and white flowers. Despite the fact that our house initially had a Southwestern/desert theme, complete with orange and brown rocks (yuck, and no offense to anyone who loves this look. Not my style) and palm trees, I made the deliberate decision to remove them all. The only plant that remained from the original landscaping design was this stunning Champagne Pink Bougainvillea, which originally had beautiful white blooms. However, as it received more sunlight, these blooms transformed into a delicate shade of pale pink. I am so glad with my choice to hang on to this guy in our garden. It was a love-hate relationship for the past year because this plant sheds…A LOT! In the end, it has won me over because I use the plant sheddings as mulch for the other plants in the garden.
After a year of being in this home, while I definitely do not claim to be an expert, here are a few things I have learned about this beauty:
Maintenance
While the bougainvillea can take the hottest days in Arizona (record temperatures this past Summer) with highs of 115 degrees without a sweat, it does require regular watering. It does not need a lot of water such as a rose but it is not a plant that can go without water. I learned this the hard way when I purchased more bougainvilleas this past year and did not water them for a week in the Summer heat. Luckily, they all recovered. If you want a plant that doesn’t shed its leaves, this is NOT for you. The paper-like “petals” drop EVERYWHERE. They are definitely messy.
Pruning
I keep this plant pruned regularly because I prefer it as a small tree rather than a bush. As you can see I removed all of its lower branches and so far it does not mind at all. It has continued to thrive with very minimal attention.
Here you will see the bouganvillea in a small tree form. My goal is to train it to be a tree. The colorful portion of the plant is white at first and turns a pale pink the more sunlight it receives.
History of the Bougainvillea
From what I was able to find, these plants originated in Brazil and Eastern parts of South America.
In the mid-1700s, a French botanist named Philibert Commerson traveled aboard a ship owned by his friend, Admiral Louis-Antoine de Bougainville.
During the voyage, which was planned to circumnavigate the globe and termed “The Bougainville Expedition,” they made a stop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Here, Commerson came upon two shockingly bright specimens that he later decided to rename in honor of his friend. (GardenersPath.com)
Versatility
These plants can be grown in-ground, on a trellis, in a pot, and as a hedge! I love that you can trim them back any time of the year and it does not phase them at all. According to ASU, these plants come in a variety of colors: pink, white, orange, purple, and yellow so you can be sure to find a shade perfect for your garden.
Watering and Sunlight
As mentioned previously, this plant absolutely needs water but not as much as other plants. It loves being in the sun and ideal for an Arizona garden. The more sunlight the better!
Root System
I read on several websites that the root system can be invasive but this plant is located 2 feet from our home and it has not caused any issues. I agree that the root system is shallow because I have removed them from containers, and I noticed that their roots are predominantly near the surface.
Propogation
Although I have come across several articles suggesting the possibility of propagating this plant from cuttings, I must admit that my attempts have not been successful so far. Despite successfully propagating numerous plants in my brief planting career, this particular one continues to have me stumped (goodness, the puns are just flowing today). I may try this banana propogating method by Garden Easy.
