Bougainvillea Bush (Bourgainvillea glabra)

The Bougainvillea Bush is one of the most popular and widely grown tropical vines reaching heights over 20 feet. Bougainvilleas are native to Brazil where Philibert Commerson, a botanist, discovered the plant in the 1700’s and named it after his friend, Louis A. de Bougainville, a Canadian explorer, lawyer, and mathematician. The plant has spiny, cascading stems with colorful blossoms in a variety of hues including red, orange, white, and purple. This shrub requires well-drained, fertile soil and plenty of sunlight.