Vine
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea x buttiana · Nyctaginaceae
Also called: Paper flower, Bougie
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana) is a low-water vine well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a fast-growing vine.
Bougainvillea at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun, including hot reflected heat; the more sun, the more bloom. Shade reduces flowering.
- Mature size
- Highly variable: sprawling vines reach 15-30 ft; shrub/dwarf forms stay 3-6 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Showy bracts in magenta, red, purple, orange, pink, gold, or white (true flowers are small and white), Spring through fall, peaking in warm months; nearly year-round in frost-free sites
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-sensitive; defoliates and suffers tip/stem dieback below ~32°F, with serious damage in the upper 20s°F. Usually recovers from roots after frost. Plant in a warm microclimate against a south/west wall.
- Soil
- Tolerant of poor, rocky soil; needs good drainage. Avoid disturbing the brittle root ball when planting.
- Native range
- Hybrid of South American species (Brazil/Peru region); not native to Arizona
- Best used as
- Walls, fences, trellises, arbors, Slope/bank cover, Espalier, Containers (dwarf forms), Hot-spot color in reflected heat
- Wildlife
- Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; dense thorny growth provides bird nesting/shelter.
- Toxicity
- Generally considered non-toxic if ingested, but thorns cause puncture wounds and sap can irritate skin; minor risk to pets/kids from thorns.
How to grow Bougainvillea in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Once established, water deeply but infrequently and let soil dry between waterings; deep soak every 7-14 days in summer. Overwatering produces leaves at the expense of bloom; slight drought stress encourages flowering.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder. A bloom-type fertilizer (lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus) in spring and midsummer boosts color; too much nitrogen yields foliage and few bracts. Supplement iron in alkaline soil if chlorotic.
Pruning & care
Prune to shape and control size after the main bloom flush and through the warm season; wear gloves for the thorns. Hard-prune in spring after frost danger passes. Pinching encourages branching and more bloom.
Notes
One of the most heat- and drought-tolerant color plants for Tucson once established. Roots are brittle—plant carefully and avoid frequent transplanting. Site in full sun against heat-radiating walls for best flowering and frost protection. Excellent low-water choice despite its tropical look.
Sources: AMWUA (Arizona Municipal Water Users Association) Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum plant references