What Is The Difference Between Bougainvillea Glabra And Spectabilis?

What is the difference between Bougainvillea glabra and spectabilis?

Lesser Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is recognized by its 5-angled (pentagonal) floral tubes and short floral bracts from Great Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis), which has spherical floral tubes and longer floral bracts but is otherwise quite similar.

The spectabilis grows masses of bracts despite being more delicate than B. glabra, which is significantly slower growing despite being more hardy.

What is Bougainvillea spectabilis?

Bougainvillea spectabilis is a tropical perennial shrubby vine planted as an annual or container plant that looks great around a pool or on a patio. It prefers damp but not soggy soil that is somewhat fertile and organically rich.

Bougainvillea thrives in hot, dry climates and should be watered thoroughly but left to dry between waterings. They are drought tolerant once developed. It is a woody climber that may cling to other plants using curled thorns carried in leaf axils and quasi-twining stems.

How do you train a bougainvillea to climb a wall?

Bougainvillea are fairly resilient plants that can be easily trained to grow on a wall. Choose a site with a lot of direct sunshine and run a trellis or wire guide around the wall in the style you choose. Pull each stem gently and slide it beneath your guide wire.

If you are choosing a less invasive style, run the wire over the plant and around a tree or other support above. Allow your Bougainvillea to grow as it will and secure it against slipping by wrapping the entire stem with twine.

Do not pinch stems which may cause bouquets to fall off. Remember that Bougainvillea are very tropical plants and require tropical temperatures, so they can be hardy in mild climates but cannot tolerate cold.

Is Bougainvillea glabra poisonous?

The sap of the bougainvillea plant is only mildly toxic, but it can cause illness if consumed in big enough quantities. The leaves of Bougainvillea are not harmful, but a puncture from the plant’s sharp thorns can produce dermatitis, a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction.

The symptoms of bougainvillea dermatitis are similar to those of poison oak or poison ivy, and may include pain, itching, stinging, or burning skin, blisters, scaly rash, swelling, and ulcers.

How do I know if my bougainvillea is a glabra?

The most common species of bougainvillea used for bonsai is Bougainvillea glabra, often known as the smaller bougainvillea or paper flower.  The term “glabra” is derived from Latin and means “bald.”

It is a glabrous or sparingly hairy evergreen climbing shrub with thick, thorny stems and drooping branches. The stem of the leaves is 3–10 millimeters long.

The leaf blade is oblong to oval-lanceolate, pointed or shortly pointed, 5 to 13 centimeters long and 3 to 6 centimeters wide, with a sparsely fluffy hairy underside and a bald top.

Purple, oblong to elliptical, pointed leaf-like bracts are 65–90 mm long and 50 mm wide. They are taller than the blooms. These grow in pairs or groups of three on flower stems that are about 3.5 millimeters long.

How fast does Bougainvillea glabra grow?

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) vines are fast growers, which means they can grow more than 36 inches each year.

Bougainvillea will only reach this quick growth rate if the weather and growing conditions are ideal. A fast-growing fern may only grow 6 inches a year, but a fast-growing tree may grow 24 inches or more.

What is common name of Bougainvillea glabra?

The most common species of bougainvillea used for bonsai is Bougainvillea glabra, often known as the smaller bougainvillea or paperflower.  The term “glabra” is derived from Latin and means “bald.”

It typically grows to a height of 3–3.5 m, but can reach up to 9 m on rare occasions. Paperflower is named because the tiny white flowers that occur in groups surrounded by colorful papery bracts.

How do you care for a Bougainvillea glabra?

Bougainvillea need a lot of sunlight. If you plant one in a shaded location, you won’t receive the riot of blossoms that is the whole idea of growing bougainvillea. You will encounter vines and thorns. It requires at least six hours of sunlight per day.

The soil should be well-drained. They dislike being wet over lengthy periods of time and might develop root rot in thick soil. They prefer grittier, loose soil.

Water immediately after planting, then monthly until the plant is established. Except in extreme drought, cease watering it once it’s established (which usually takes one to two years). Bougainvillea prefers a dry climate.

You don’t need to water the vine once it’s established if you have regular rain. Bougainvillea prefers a dry climate. It prefers deep waterings every three to four weeks over frequent shallow waterings. If you overwater a bougainvillea, it might get fungal infections and root rot.

It should not be fertilized. This hardy plant doesn’t require it. However, compost should be applied to the soil around it. In the spring, a 3-inch coating of compost is sufficient. Use palm and hibiscus food if you must fertilize.

The cold is an issue. These tropical dislike temperatures below 30 degrees. They can tolerate one or two nights of light freezing, but any longer and they will perish. Established vines can withstand a cold spell better than newly planted ones.

How big does bougainvillea glabra grow?

It typically grows to a height of 3–3.5 m, but can reach up to 9 m on rare occasions. Paperflower is named because the tiny white flowers that occur in groups surrounded by colorful papery bracts.

The leaves are dark green and vary in shape, reaching up to 100 mm (4 in) in length. The flowers have a diameter of about 0.4 cm (the pink petal-like structures are not petals, but bracts.)

Is Bougainvillea glabra a tree?

It is a glabrous or sparingly hairy evergreen climbing shrub with thick, thorny stems and drooping branches. The stem of the leaves is 3–10 millimeters long.

The leaf blade is oblong to oval-lanceolate, pointed or shortly pointed, 5 to 13 centimeters long and 3 to 6 centimeters wide, with a sparsely fluffy hairy underside and a bald top. Purple, oblong to elliptical, pointed leaf-like bracts are 65–90 mm long and 50 mm wide.

They are taller than the blooms. These grow in pairs or groups of three on flower stems that are about 3.5 millimeters long.

What is Bougainvillea glabra used for?

Bougainvillea spp. are used as ornamental plants and also have a variety of other uses. In addition to their use as bonsai specimens (see above), the vines of species such

The infusion of the plant’s sensitive leaves and bracts is used orally to treat gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, stomach pain), as well as respiratory diseases (asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, chest pain, fever, pneumonia, whooping cough).

How do you propagate bougainvillea glabra?

Growing bougainvillea from cuttings is the simplest technique of propagation. It is possible to do it at any time of year. Look for softwood when taking a clipping from your bougainvillea. This is a section of the plant that isn’t fresh new, but it’s also not established or too woody.

Cut a length of softwood 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm) long with 4 to 6 nodes. Nodes are areas on a branch that have grown smaller branches or have buds that will sprout shortly. If desired, soak the end of the cutting in root hormone.

Remove any leaves from the cutting and place it upright in a mixture of 1 part perlite and 1 part peat. Sink it into the growing medium one or two inches (2.5-5 cm). Keep the pot at a high temperature. Water and spritz your cutting every now and then, but don’t overdo it.

It should take root and grow into a new plant in a few months.

What is the lifespan of bougainvillea plant?

It takes between 1 and 12 days for bud initiations and initiations to fully bloom. Flowers on plants have a lifespan of roughly 13 days from bud blossoming through senescence.

Within two days of senescence, all of the bracts enclosing the flower had dropped. According to Saifuddin (2009), the lifespan of a Bougainvillea bract is around 24 days.

Can you grow bougainvillea glabra from seed?

Propagating bougainvillea seeds is a less prevalent method of propagation, but it is still a viable option. Your bougainvillea may generate seed pods inside the little white blossom in its center in the autumn.

Harvest and dry these pods; inside should be extremely little seeds. Seeds can be planted at any time of year as long as they are kept warm. Be patient, since germination might take up to a month.

Do Bougainvillea glabra produce flowers?

It typically grows to a height of 3–3.5 m (10–12 ft), but can reach up to 9 m on occasion (30 ft). Paperflowers are named because their little white flowers that occur in bunches surrounded by colorful papery bracts.

The leaves are dark green and vary in shape, measuring up to 100 mm (4 in) in length. The flowers measure approximately 0.4 cm in diameter (the pink petal-like structures are not petals, but bracts.)

How do you fertilize Bougainvillea glabra?

Over-fertilizing bougainvillea, especially with nitrogen, might result in more vine growth but fewer flowers. Typically, bougainvillea are planted in the spring or summer.

Then don’t fertilize. After a month to six weeks, distribute 1 teaspoon of slow release 12-4-6 fertilizer around the base of the plant and thoroughly water it.

When the bougainvillea is established the following spring, fertilize it twice, first in early spring and again in midsummer. Apply 6 ounces of 12-4-6 slow-release fertilizer per 25 square feet each time, and water thoroughly.

How do you prune a bougainvillea glabra?

Because bougainvillea shoots grow quickly, prune on a regular basis to direct the plant’s growth and structure. Pruning suckers from the plant’s base will boost top growth.

Prune spindly and twiggy growth and clip shoots back by one-third to limit the size of bougainvillea. If you prune them too much, their bloom show will be reduced.

If you have a rainy season, prune your bougainvillea after it has produced an abundance of flowers. Bougainvillea produce the most blooms from early October through early spring. Pruning in late summer or early fall will reduce the quantity of blooms blossoming during this season.

To prevent disease spread, disinfect pruning tools by dipping them in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 3 parts water, rinsing with water, and allowing to air dry.

Is bougainvillea glabra Evergreen?

It is a glabrous or sparingly hairy evergreen climbing shrub with thick, thorny stems and drooping branches. The stem of the leaves is 3–10 millimeters long.

The leaf blade is oblong to oval-lanceolate, pointed or shortly pointed, 5 to 13 centimeters long and 3 to 6 centimeters wide, with a sparsely fluffy hairy underside and a bald top. Purple, oblong to elliptical, pointed leaf-like bracts are 65–90 mm long and 50 mm wide.

They are taller than the blooms. These grow in pairs or groups of three on flower stems that are about 3.5 millimeters long.

Where is Bougainvillea glabra  from?

The most common species of bougainvillea used for bonsai is Bougainvillea glabra, often known as the smaller bougainvillea or paperflower.  The term “glabra” is derived from Latin and means “bald.”

Paperflower is a Brazilian plant whose bracts are purple or magenta to lighter shades in some types. In warm areas, the stem of B. glabra can grow to be 20 to 30 meters (60 to 100 feet) long, and the plant is in bloom for the most of the year.