PUSHING THE BORDERS

Grow Bougainvillea here in the UK that is, I have managed the odd 2 or 3 year stretch but they normally do so poorly that you end up feeling guilty for torturing the poor thing

So do any of you in the cities get away with growing one outside?
Bougainvillea 004 by charliepridham, on Flickr

I have found the reds and purples tougher, with orange flowered and variegated leaves being the least hardy

Out doors in Cornwall I think we are more limited by cool summers than by winter minima for these. Even on a south facing wall they don't seem to 'ripen' here.

Chad.

:( I think you are right, and of late cool summers has been an understatement! positively cold at times.

I am surprised though at the lack of these in say central London

I am trying to remember where I saw one in London, but have a feeling it was in some ones very posh fruit greenhouse up again a very sunny south facing wall under glass. If it is the one I am thinking of a section of it goes outside continuing along the same wall and is constantly looking tatty.

I have purple and red in my cold frame conservatory. I guess the heat from the Bungalow keeps it in the green ( just). Couldn't do without it!




Wayne

Wayne wrote:I have purple and red in my cold frame conservatory. I guess the heat from the Bungalow keeps it in the green ( just). Couldn't do without it!
Wayne

I knew I had seen it somewhere, although I think I have got my plants confused, as the one I mentioned in my original post is not Waynes :lol:

I have seen a big one growing in Edinburgh...




at the Botanic Gardens.

Dave Bindon grew and flowered a Bougainvillea successfully for several years on a sunny wall when he lived in North London, but I don't suppose it's a great challenge now that he's living in Athens...

A major plant in my garden and I couldnt imagine not having one.
I cant grow them in the ground but they are quite happy in pots and winter easily in the greenhouse.
My biggest plants are B.glabra, the darker purple ones and I think the hardiest of them all.
I leave them in the greenhouse until the bracts are forming then bring them out for summer where they flower (well bract) for the most of it.
Also in pots I can move them about to give a mass of colour where its needed.
I keep these on a cane wigwam and keep them pruned back to 6 or 7 foot.

I have a variegated B.'raspberry ice' in the conservatory and although still a young plant 93 years old now) it has kept and produced several brachts all through the winter.
I think this one is my favourite and as it easily handles hard pruning it can come inside for winter for many years to come.

Any pics of that from last summer Ade ?