Bougainvillea ‘Smarty Pants’

Bougainvillea 'Smarty Pants' (Bougainvillea 'Smarty Pants') gives you the colour of a bougainvillea without the ladder work. It is a dwarf shrubby form rather than a climber, holding at about 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide, and it covers itself in pure white bracts from spring through to autumn. That compact habit makes it a genuine pot and courtyard plant rather than something that swallows a pergola.

Why you'll love it

• Compact, not a climber. It builds a rounded shrub around 1.5m each way, so it needs none of the tying and training a climbing bougainvillea demands.
• White bracts over a long season. Clean white colour from spring into autumn, which sits well against rendered walls, pool fencing and dark foliage.
• Thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and happy in poor soil. It flowers best when it is a little stressed rather than pampered.
• Made for containers. Root restriction actually improves flowering, so a pot is an ideal home rather than a compromise.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A container 400mm or wider is plenty. Keep it in the sunniest spot you have and let it dry between waterings, because potted plants flower harder.

Poolside planting. Salt and heat tolerance suit a pool surround, and it does not overhang the water. Site it back from bare feet, because it carries thorns.

Low mass planting and borders. Plant 1m apart for a low block of white through a hot, dry bed. At that spacing the plants merge within two seasons.

Growing Bougainvillea 'Smarty Pants' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more the better. Six hours minimum, and shade simply means no flowers. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It is frost tender, so in cool districts grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining and on the poor side. Rich, composted soil gives lush green growth and very few bracts. In pots, use a quality potting mix with extra coarse sand.

Water and feed. Water twice weekly for the first two months, then let it dry out between deep waterings, because a dry period triggers a flush of bracts. Feed with a low nitrogen, high potassium fertiliser in early spring and mid summer. High nitrogen feeds are the usual reason a bougainvillea stays green.

Pruning. Tip prune after each flowering flush to keep it dense and encourage the next round. Wear thick gloves, because the stems carry sharp thorns. A harder shaping cut is best done in late winter.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock. Each plant arrives small and single stemmed with a strong root system, which is how bougainvilleas transplant best. They resent root disturbance, so plant it out without teasing the roots. Expect a well furnished shrub in its second season.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Some bract drop in transit is normal. Expect new growth within three to four weeks in warm weather, and the first real flush of colour in the first full warm season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Bougainvillea care tips for Australian gardens
• Plants that perform in pots and containers
• Compact plants for balconies and courtyards
• Plants suited to poolside gardens

Common questions

Does it climb?

No. This is a dwarf shrubby bougainvillea that forms a rounded bush around 1.5m each way. If you want to cover a fence or pergola you need a full sized climbing variety instead.

Does it have thorns?

Yes. Like nearly all bougainvilleas it carries sharp thorns along the stems, so wear gloves when pruning and keep it back from narrow paths and play areas.

Why is mine all leaf and no colour?

Usually too much water, too much nitrogen, or not enough sun. Let it dry between waterings, switch to a low nitrogen fertiliser, and give it at least six hours of direct sun.