Bougainvillea ‘Scarlet O’Hara’

Bougainvillea 'Scarlet O'Hara' (Bougainvillea spp.) is the vigorous red one, the variety people picture when they imagine a wall of colour over a carport or a coastal fence. Given a strong support it climbs to around 6m and spreads about 4m, and it does it quickly. Heat, drought and salt wind barely register. Frost does, so this is a plant for warm gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Deep red colour for most of the year. The colour comes from bracts rather than petals, which is why it holds for weeks rather than days.
• Fast cover. Few climbers clothe a fence or pergola as quickly. On a good site it covers a standard carport within two to three seasons.
• Drought and heat tolerant. It flowers best on the dry side, so less water and less feeding gives more colour.
• Coastal ready. Salt tolerant and unbothered by exposure, so a beachside fence line is within its range.
• It works in a pot. Root restriction encourages flowering, so a large container on a hot courtyard suits it.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart along a fence or wire for a continuous curtain. It needs something solid to climb, because the canes get heavy as they lengthen.

Coastal gardens and hot courtyards. Reflected heat off paving and walls suits it. This is the plant for the position that cooks everything else by February.

Pots and containers. A pot at least 500mm wide with gritty mix and full sun holds it at a manageable 1.5m to 2m with three or four trims a year.

Growing bougainvillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the hotter the better. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. It is frost tender, so cold southern gardens are unsuitable in the ground; a large pot moved under cover for winter is the honest workaround.

Soil. Free draining and on the lean side. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and heavy clay needs a raised bed. Do not enrich the planting hole, because rich soil produces leafy canes and little colour.

Water and feed. Water twice weekly through the first summer, then only in prolonged dry weather. Letting the plant dry slightly between waterings triggers a flush of bracts. Use a low nitrogen fertiliser in early spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Trim after each flush, cutting the long whippy canes back to shape. It flowers on new growth, so pruning drives the next display. Wear heavy gloves and long sleeves, because the canes carry sharp thorns.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown as tube stock, so plants arrive young: a short stem with a few leaves, not the mass of colour in the photograph. Bougainvillea resents root disturbance, and a tube transplants far more cleanly than a larger pot.

Plant it against its support straight away, tie the leading cane in, and water it well. Expect slow progress for two or three months, then rapid growth once summer arrives, with the first real display usually in the second season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our bougainvillea care tips.
• Compare the wider range of climbing plants.
• Browse salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens.
• Find companions in plants for pots and containers.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it along a fence?

About 2m apart. Each plant spreads roughly 4m, so 2m spacing gives a solid curtain with overlap, and it lets you train the canes horizontally, which produces more flowering side shoots.

Why is mine all leaves and no colour?

Almost always too much water, too much nitrogen, or not enough sun. Cut back the watering, switch to a low nitrogen fertiliser, and give it six hours of direct sun.

Does it have thorns?

Yes, and they are substantial. Keep it away from narrow paths, doorways and play areas, and wear thick gloves when pruning. On a pergola above head height it causes no trouble.