Bougainvillea ‘Purple Cascade’

Bougainvillea 'Purple Cascade' (Bougainvillea glabra 'Purple Cascade') is the plant for the hot, dry, difficult spot that has already defeated something else. Trained on a fence or wall it reaches about 4m tall and 3m wide, smothering itself in deep purple bracts through the warm months. It is fast, drought tolerant and salt tolerant, and the only thing it really asks is full sun and a pair of secateurs.

Why you'll love it

• Colour on a scale nothing else matches. The purple bracts cover the whole plant rather than appearing in patches, and they hold for months.
• It thrives where watering is hard. Genuinely drought tolerant once established, and it flowers better when kept on the dry side.
• Heat, salt and exposure are all fine. Coastal front gardens, west facing walls and hot inland courtyards all suit it.
• Fast cover. With a support to climb it covers a fence or a bare wall within two to three seasons.

Where it works best

Screening a fence or wall. Plant 1.5m apart along a fence line for a solid screen, and give it wires or a trellis to tie into.

Retaining walls and slopes. Planted above a wall it cascades over the face, which is where the variety name comes from and where it looks best.

Pots and coastal gardens. A pot 500mm or wider holds it to a manageable size, and salt tolerance makes it a reliable choice on exposed seaside blocks.

Growing bougainvillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day. In shade you get leaves and no colour. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and handles light frost only, so cold inland and southern districts need a warm sheltered wall or a large pot that can be moved.

Soil. Free draining and not rich. Poor soil gives better flowering than improved soil, so skip heavy compost and manure. Disturb the root ball as little as possible when planting, because bougainvillea roots resent handling.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then sparingly. Regular deep watering produces lush green growth and very few bracts. A low nitrogen or flowering fertiliser in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. Prune after each flush, cutting back the long whippy growth to a few buds. This is what forces the short flowering wood. Wear thick gloves and long sleeves.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown: tube stock and established 300mm plants. Tubes are young single stemmed plants and the value choice for a long fence, since it grows fast enough that a larger pot's head start is gone within a couple of years. The 300mm plants are already branched and usually flower in their first season.

The tube size is listed on backorder, so check availability before planning a run. Some leaf drop after transit is normal for this plant and it reshoots quickly. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the bougainvillea care guide for pruning and feeding detail.
• Browse the full climber range.
• See what else suits an exposed site in coastal and salt tolerant plants.
• Compare options in plants to soften fences and retaining walls.

Common questions

Why is mine all leaves and no colour?

Almost always too much water, too much fertiliser, or not enough sun. Cut the watering right back, use a low nitrogen feed, and make sure it gets sun for most of the day.

How far apart along a fence?

One and a half metres apart, with wires or a trellis to tie the growth into. Bougainvillea scrambles rather than clings, so it will not attach itself to a bare surface.

Can I keep it in a pot?

Yes, and pots suit it well, since restricted roots encourage flowering. Water sparingly and prune after each flush to hold the size.

Is it thorny?

Very. The thorns are stout and sharp, so keep it away from paths, play areas and narrow walkways.