Bougainvillea - extraordinarily attractive plant, the birthplace of which is Brazil. They like to decorate arbors, apartments, and greenhouses with this plant. It is powerful, evergreen, with thorns on vines. Reproduction occurs only by cuttings, and with proper care, bougainvillea rewards with abundant flowering.
Did you know? Can mutate, creating different types of plants, while not giving seeds.
In this article, we will look at what bougainvillea is and highlight the most popular varieties and varieties.
Bougainvillea wonderful (Bougainvillea spectabilis)
The popularity of bougainvillea was acquired in the 19th century, it was found on rocky slopes in tropical regions of Brazil. However, in southern countries, this plant was used as decoration for arbors and greenhouses. This type of bougainvillea has large bracts and velvety leaves that turn pale during flowering.
Did you know? The plant grows extremely fast and can reach up to 15 meters in height.
In bougainvillea remarkable pretty strong leaves pointed heart-shaped, with a little pile on the back side. Bougainvillea has a beautiful beautiful flowers, in this species at the ends of the branches they are collected in inflorescences, which open from April to mid-autumn. In length, flowers up to 5 cm. There are usually up to three bracts of a pink, purple or red shade around the flowers. Every year the color of the stipule fades. Perianth in the form of a tube, yellow-green color. The shoots of the plant are covered with spikes and can reach up to 9 meters.
Bougainvillea naked (Bougainvillea glabra)
Bougainvillea naked can grow up to 5 meters, unlike bougainvillea remarkable, therefore, most often this plant is used as a room. Pruning it endures painlessly, so you can form a bush as you like. Bougainvillea blooms naked from spring to early summer. Thanks to the selection work, the plant has a wide palette of colors.
Did you know? This type of bougainvillea became the basis for the creation of hybrid varieties.
The stem is branching, naked, sometimes found with spines. The leaves are bare, glossy, oval with a sharp end, up to 15 cm long, dark green. Bracts pink, white, orange, yellow or purple. It blooms thickly and long. Growing bougainvillea naked on average, quite often used for bonsai.
Peruvian Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea peruviana)
Peruvian bougainvillea was discovered by Alexander von Humboldt from Germany in 1810. The leaves are long, thin, without pubescence, pronounced egg-shaped. Unlike other varieties, the plant has a green bark on the branches. On the shoots short and straight thorns. Peruvian bougainvillea flowers of yellow shades. Bracts purple or pink color, round shape, leathery surface. Flowers are usually arranged singly, or in a group of up to 3 units.
Did you know? Peruvian bougainvillea blooms a couple of times a year, while other species bloom only once.
This species grows quite strongly, having at the same time small bushiness.
Hybrid Bougainvillea Forms
Every year there are more and more forms of bougainvillea, obtained by breeding. At exhibitions, this plant is presented in new decorative forms and colors. The most common hybrid species was obtained by crossing Peruvian and beautiful bougainvillea. In this species, the leaves are rather large, emerald green, egg-shaped. The branches are strong, straight thorns. 
When the bracts bloom, they are coppery red, and as they age, they change color to pink or purple. Flowers in this plant in cream shades. One more, not less widespread hybrid type of a plant received, having crossed the bougainvillea naked and Peruvian. Dark green leaves have an ovoid shape. Small white flowers are located on the stems of evergreen vines. Flowers are in clusters, which are surrounded by three thin bracts of bright pink color.
Bougainvillea varieties
To date, there are a large number of varieties of bougainvillea, which are designed for home breeding. They differ in color, size of bracts, shape. There are oval, triangular, terry and non-terry varieties of bougainvillea.
Most popular varieties:
- glabra "Sanderiana" - the plant blooms profusely and has purple bracts;
- glabra "Cypheri" - bracts pink color;
- "Maud Chettleburgh" - purple-pink bracts;
- "Tomato Red" - quite large non-double buds of red color;
- "Double Red" - double, red-colored bracts; and many others.
Next, we consider a more detailed description of the most popular varieties of bougainvilleas.
Terry varieties of bougainvillea
Terry varieties of bougainvillea have very beautiful shades of flowers. For example, in the variety "Double Pink" transitions in pink colors; the "Double Lilarose" purple and dark pink shades; the "Lateritia" - delicate shades of pink and salmon flowers, they bloom for a long time and unpretentious in the care. In the variety "Surprise", thanks to the bud mutation, there are branches, the colors of the bracts of which differ from those of the mother plant. Pink bracts, at the same time, may be marble white and pink. Reproduction of such varieties can be carried out only vegetatively. Terry varieties of bougainvillea are distinguished by rather dense caps, which are located at the ends of the shoots.
Variegated bougainvillea varieties
Variegated varieties of bougainvillea can be obtained vegetatively by cuttings and cuttings. Branches, thorns, leaves, veins - all green. Bracts by color are quite diverse, they can be both multi-colored and monophonic. The variety "Raspberry Ice" has a cream stripe at the ends of the leaves. San Diego Red Variegata has golden-green leaves, and bracts are red. In the variety "Delta Dawn" bluish-green leaves with a white edging, and bracts golden and salmon color. On the leaves of variegated bougainvillea varieties, it is often possible to see pink spots, not only white or gold.
Varieties bicolor
In bicolor varieties of branches, leaves, thorns and veins of golden or yellow color. The color range of this variety is impressive, from stripes and spots of gold or cream to chaotic large parts of green color. These varieties of bougainvillea grow more slowly, they are whimsical, need increased attention. Bracts in bicolor varieties of bougainvillea usually in red shades. In the variety "Bois De Roses", the bracts are first orange, but then, changing their color, turn bright pink. Similar changes in color can be observed in such a variety as "Thai Gold": first, the bracts are golden-orange, but then change color to bright pink. Such changes can be observed in most bicolor varieties: white bracts eventually acquire red, pink or orange tones.
