PlantFiles: Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea 'Torch Glow'

Hello
I have been growing bougainvilleas in my mediterranean garden for many years. I find that they flower best in this region - their flowering patterns are variable. Sometimes you see the most neglected bougainvillea on a roadside, where probably no one has watered or fertilized it and its branches are breaking with coloured bracts. Others that are "looked after" show no signs of flowering. Personally, I have found that in one spot one plant the plant flowers all summer and two metre further along looks miserable and yellow. We have v alkaline soil out here so maybe the latter needs iron.

This is rather unique form of Bougainvillea. I have seen/grown lots of Bougainvilleas over the years, some low, creeping forms, some massive aggressive forms... but this is a great plant unlike any of the others I have tried.

First of all, it has no spines, or if it does, they are so rudimentary or twig-like, they are not a problem. You don't need gloves or extra protection to grow this one.

Secondly, it is a dwarf form, not a climbing one, but not a sprawling one, either. Makes a nice, self-supporting bush, that is great for pot culture or growing in the ground. It stays compact in many ways- more leaves per inch, more flowers are colored carpals per inch. And it branches a lot less, tending to grow straight, shooting, upright branches with few offshoots. Mine is growing in a pot and that has doubly dwarfed its growth habit and shape.

Lastly, I am a bit dubious about the hardiness listed above, though perhaps that is a 'survival' hardiness. This bougainvillea is way more cold sensitive than any of the others I have grown, as it completely defoliates in the winters here. In fact, it takes a long time to rebound and doesn't start looking good again until mid summer. I am finding it a very thirsty form compared to others I have growing in a pot, but that maybe a poor pot choice or something else. Someone else reported theirs as being similar in drought hardiness to other varieties. I have seen this commonly sold (though not nearly as commonly as 'regular' forms of bougainvillea) at specialty nurseries, often under the name Bangkok Dwarf Bougainvillea.

Sudie Goodman, Zone 8b, Broaddus in Southeast TX


I have a red bougainvillea as well as an orange one, in pots. They over winter in greenhouse.
I have snail problem. Orange one is blooming this Easter Sunday 2005.
Prune leggy limbs to prevent thorn problem and production of more blooms.
Try it, you'll like it!