Anyone know anything about "Bougainvillea"?

I would so much appreciate any input on these. Today I bought a beautiful one. I have never seen them before. They had it in a hanging basket. I looked on plant files and several other sites. I didn't find my zone on any of it's hardiness list. I'm on the coast in Jacksonville. My zone is 8b.[according to several sources ] Now if anyone knows if its hardy in my zone or anything about the plant, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks-Lynda

here around hilton head i have seen them do ok, usually as perennials that come back vigorously, but i have seen one or two not even blink at our freezes.... but those were right next to the beach. maybe if you protected it it would survive

Thanks for the input. What about just bringing in the house when it gets cold? Do you know what other forum I might try?
Regards-Lynda

the tropical plants forum

They grow like crazy in florida, not sure sure about our NC winters though.
r30

I would bring it inside. It may survive the winters in a protected spot, but it would take a while to grow back next Spring, so would only bloom in the Fall.
As far as care goes - full sun and I just water mine when it looks thirsty (droopy leaves). Fertilizer encourages stem and foliage growth. I've found that they bloom mostly in the Spring and Fall, so stop fertilizing and trim back in early September to encourage blooming, (in the Spring, just withhold the fertilizer, as they probably won't have grown much over the Winter). Remember, those "blooms" aren't blooms, but colored brachs, so a bloom boost fertilizer won't do anything.
Hope this helps.
Barb

Barbie,
Thanks, that info on the fertilizer and the blooms was something I did not know.
Thank you all.
Lynda

I'm in 7b and had mine in the GH, I'd bring it it. don't baby it too much or water it very much either..lol..they bloomed all winter

I grew a Barbara Karst in the greenhouse for a year, putting it outdoors in the summer, bringing it in the next fall. That winter (2nd year), it literally took over the greenhouse. Pretty, but it was blocking the sun from too many areas, so it had to go. I had to chop off 15-20 foot limbs just to get it out of the greenhouse! Plus, it had rooted in the GH floor! To make a long nasty story short, I piled up the trimmings outside the GH expecting to move them to the landfill the next weekend. You know how that goes...2 months later when I got around to actually moving the pile, one of the chopped off trimmings had rooted! Couldn't bring myself to pull it out by the roots (also, I was already a bloody mess and not in good humor) so I left it. It's still alive today, but it has NEVER flowered. Don't think it ever will. It seems to be able to stay alive (roots) in zone 8b and function as a marginal perennial, but the energy required to replace top growth doesn't leave anything for bract formation so it never flowers. Without those gorgeous bracts, it's a vile plant. If you want to keep it blooming Lynda, you're going to have to bring it inside for the winter.

Thats some great input from you all.. Maybe you could make a home movie about the plant that got jealous and tried to overtake everything in the greenhouse. It sounded a little scarry when it kept holding on outside the GH. You can really get worried when it starts climbing up to your windows to peek at you. LOL!
Lynda

They do root easily from cuttings - they're one of the first plants I was able to sucessfully root when I started gardening.
That's crazy that yours got so big SR. I've had them get big, but not like that!
Barb

It shouldn't have gotten that big Beach_Barbie, but it did. I think the answer lay in the taproot getting through the pot into the warm ground of the GH floor and running wild (no other roots to compete with). That thing grew like Topsy! The GH is 14'x24' and literally 3/4ths of the space was covered by Barbara. So they root easily from cuttings, eh? Maybe before I dig that useless thug outside the gh and pitch it in the woods, I'll take a cutting...but it will be potted in a hanging basket 6' off the floor!

A boug that big would definately be a beast especially in such an enclosed space!
I think 6' up is a very good idea!
Barb

I never had luck with mine without bringing it indoors. I got caught unprepared last winter and the first freeze got it! It's good to know it roots from cuttings - I'd love to try - they are truly gorgeous and remind me so much of the Caribbean where they grow like weeds!
Melissa

By the way - Beach Barbie - I live not far from you - about 2 miles over the bridge in Old Chimney. We'll have to get together sometime! Melissa

I have tried about eveything but can't seem to get them to last over winter in or out.LOL Inside couldn't find a place the light worked for it.
I this year just bought another.
Williams in Merritt has them cheaper than all the stress tryin to keep one alive.

Lavina

This message was edited Sep 24, 2008 10:16 AM

I agree - overwintering plants can be very satisfying, but sometimes it just ain't worth it!
Barb

mwlgood-
We seem to be in the same zone, since I'm in Jacksonville. I'll probably go by what you said happened to yours. I think our weather is very tricky sometimes, Don't you ? Thanks for everyones input.
Lynda

Lynda - The weather here can be very interesting - I hope you didn't have too much rain yesterday in the "no-name" nor'easter? My yard this morning looks like it did after Hannah. UGH! At least we're not in a drought! Melissa

Don't 'cha love it - if a storm doesn't come off the coast of Africa and travel across the Atlantic, it doesn't get a name, the National News doesn't follow it, the bridge doesn't close and (most important) the liquor store doesn't close!
And a lot of the time, just as much damage happens from those storms as from tropical storms!
Barb