Bougainvillea is very showy plant that grows a sprawling collection of woody, twisting branches, each of which is generally covered with thorns. The leaves of this plant are either oval or heart-shaped, and the flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. While the flowers themselves are actually small and inconspicuous, they are surrounded by brightly colored leaves, called bracts, that look like petals and provide the vibrant color this plant is famous for. Bougainvillea is a natural climber, so it isn’t hard to train it to grow up a fence, creating a magnificent display on and off throughout the year as the flowers bloom repeatedly.
Bougainvillea is a tropical plant that comes in many varieties, some of which can grow up to 40 feet high on the sides of buildings, trees or other supports. It thrives in warm climates, doing well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9B though 11. This plant comes in several forms, including woody vines, small trees and shrubs — all of which typically need a bright, sunny spot with well-drained soil. It tends to be tolerant of salty soil as well as being drought tolerant. It displays its best color when it is not over-watered or over-fertilized, though a light feeding each month that the bougainvillea is blooming promotes good health. The ideal distance between bougainvillea plants varies with the variety, but in general the large vines need at least 5 to 10 feet between plants, while the smaller types can be as little as 3 feet apart.
When choosing varieties of bougainvillea to cover a fence, be sure to look for those that climb, as some types of bougainvillea are grown as shrubs and don’t do any climbing. Good choices are the compact Purple Queen for gardeners with limited space or the large Camarillo Fiesta that can reach up to 30 feet high. Many other varieties have similar growth characteristics but come in different colors. If your plant becomes too large for your space, prune bougainvillea to keep it to a manageable size and shape. Pruning is best done at the beginning of the growing season, though stray or overgrown branches can be trimmed at any time.
When bougainvillea is planted next to an open fence, such as one made of chain link or wire, it will naturally seek to climb the fence. The branches will grow up through the fence and ultimately cover it, even though bougainvillea lacks tendrils or clinging rootlets that other vines use for climbing. To control how and where the plant climbs, tie bougainvillea to the supporting fence, and any branches that stray are either brought back to the fence and tied or pruned from the plant. Bougainvillea usually needs help climbing fences without openings, since it has no way to grip a solid wall. In this situation, add guide wires or a trellis to the fence, then tie the branches to the supporting structure to get the desired results.
A large bougainvillea can be quite heavy and requires a sturdy fence for support. Weak or delicate fences may end up broken, crushed beneath the weight of a huge plant. When tying a bougainvillea to the fence, use soft ties fastened loosely around the plant, giving the branches room to grow without damage. Bougainvilleas will seek to grow vertically regardless of whether they are tied, and they may end up climbing over small buildings, other plants or anything else in the area if conditions are right. If there is nothing for them to climb, bougainvilleas will end up as a bushy mass of branches, or they will spread out to create a thorny ground cover.
- Learn2Grow: Bougainvillea
- University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service: Bougainvillea Spp.
- The Bougainvillea Growers: Bougainvillea Plant Care
- Learn2Grow: Bougainvillea 'Moneth' Purple Queen
- Learn2Grow: Bougainvillea 'Monle' Camarillo fiesta
- Learn2Grow: Vine Planting: Offering Support
- Santa Barbara Garden Design: Flowering Vines
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