Sunday, November 2, 2008

Light and Bright - White Varigated Bougainvillea

As I've stated before, bougainvillea is one of those plants that some people love and some people don't love, to put it mildly. I love it, but I understand why some gardeners have their reservations about it. Once it is established it is a very tough plant and because of this it is overused along the freeways and in shopping center islands in California. It also has nasty thorns that make pruning a life endangering task. If you have ever tried to remove it, you know that its roots are almost impossible to eliminate and it keeps coming back again and again like an unwelcome house guest.

But there are few plants that offer as much stunning color for months on end with little to no water once established. The colors are brilliant and it comes in reds, pinks, golds and white and many change shades during the growing season.

This picture is one of my newest discoveries that I found last summer while hunting down white flowering plants for the Moonlight Garden. Not only are the flowers a pure white, but the foliage is a green and white variegation. I think it is a lovely way to brighten up the dry corners of the garden. Hopefully I will feel that way for a long time because I dread trying to move it!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooo, that would be lovely in your Moonlight Garden. I learn something new from every blog I visit -- my uncle's garden (that I visit frequently) has a huge clump of this plant, but I don't think I've ever seen it in bloom. Lovely!

Signe said...

I think bouganvillea is a beautiful plant. The variegated one I have never seen before.

In Norway bouganvillea only kan be grown as an indorplant.