A bougainvillea is among one of the most popular vines and you may want to add it to your landscape. Beautiful blossoms are just one of the most attractive features of the vine. There are many reasons to plant one in your own yard, but there are also some drawbacks about which you may not be aware. The following are some of the pros and cons of adding a bougainvillea vine to your landscape.
Pros
The vines have become popular for planting around homes and along fences as a security feature and intruder deterrent due to their very sharp thorns.
They’re fast growing.
A bougainvillea will produce a profusion of showy blooms over the course of three to five weeks, depending on the health of the vine.
It’s drought resistant and adapts to a wide variety of soil conditions.
Bougainvillea can be grown in containers on the patio, which will assist in keeping it under control, but it will still require a trellis or other type of support. It’s never a good idea to cultivate them indoors due to the thorns.
Cons
Bougainvillea’s sharp thorns are able to piece clothing and deliver a nasty wound to bare skin. They’re not recommended in homes with children, the elderly, or pets.
The vine’s sap is toxic and if ingested in sufficient amounts, people and pets can become very ill.
If pricked by one of the thorns, you may develop an allergic response similar to that of poison ivy or poison oak. It may produce symptoms that include blisters, swelling, pain, or itching and stinging.
It blooms best when water stressed. That can be a problem for homes with automatic irrigation systems. That can be remedied by planting it in specific locations or adjusting the irrigation system to deliver less moisture to the area where the vine is planted.
Bougainvillea has the potential to become invasive due to its fast growing nature and adaptability if it’s not managed and maintained properly.
It needs to be planted a minimum of four feet from walkways and similar locations to prevent injuries to people and pets. To ensure it doesn’t disturb other landscape plants, it should be grown at least six to nine feet from any other plant.
The vine will require support. Make sure arbors and trellises are strong enough to support it.
Bougainvillea requires regular pruning to promote a proper form and prevent it from running rampant.
RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.
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