LIFESTYLE NEWS - Bougainvilleas originated in South America and the colourful flowers are actually not flowers at all, but bracts.
The real flowers, tiny white ones, are hidden in the centre of the bracts.
Choosing the right one
There are loads of different varieties and a wide range of colours.
Before you buy one, first decide how you want to use it – in a container, as a colour accent, to cover a bank or scramble over a wall. If you have a small garden then choose one of the dwarf varieties that only grow up to one and half metres high.
They’re very colourful and look good in pots.
Bougainvilleas are ideal for growing against a boundary wall as they make an excellent security barrier.
If you’ve ever pruned one, you’ll know how vicious the thorns can be.
Planting
Bougainvilleas love the heat and grow best in full sun.
When planting, get them off to a good start by digging a large hole and adding a cup of superphosphate or bone meal to the bottom of the planting hole and loads of compost to the top soil.
They much prefer sandy, well-draining soil to clay.
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