Mahatma Gandhi Bougainvillea

Mahatma Gandhi Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra 'Mahatma Gandhi') is a compact, rambling bougainvillea for gardens that cannot house a monster. It stays 1m to 2m high but spreads 3m to 4m across, and its vivid magenta pink bracts cover deep green foliage through the warmer months. It needs a frost free position and rewards full sun, poor soil and a little neglect.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that carries across a garden. The magenta pink show comes from bracts, the coloured leaves that surround the tiny true flowers, and they hold their colour far longer than ordinary petals.
• Compact for a bougainvillea. It keeps to 1m to 2m in height, which suits low fences, small trellises and garden beds.
• Happy in a pot. The rambling habit trails over the rim of a large pot or hanging basket as a compact, cascading feature.
• Tough on poor ground. It is drought tolerant and grows in poor soil and salty soil, so it earns its place where other climbers sulk.
• Evergreen backdrop. Deep green foliage stays on the plant, so the stems never look bare between flushes of colour.

Where it works best

Low fences and trellises. Plant 2m apart along a low fence and tie the main stems to wire or a small trellis as they grow. At 3m to 4m wide, each plant fills its section and meets the next.

Garden beds. In full sun and free draining soil, let it sprawl as a colourful mound. Give it the width, because it spreads far more than it rises.

Pots and baskets. A large container lets cooler gardens move it under cover for winter, and the stems tumble over the edge as a compact feature.

Growing Mahatma Gandhi Bougainvillea in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is essential. It must be kept frost free, so it suits tropical, subtropical and frost free warm temperate gardens. In colder districts grow it in a pot and shelter it from frost.

Soil. Plant in free draining soil enriched with organic matter. Bougainvilleas resent root disturbance, so ease the plant out of its tube and settle it in without teasing the roots apart.

Water and feed. Water lightly but regularly for the first 12 months to build roots and leaf, then step back, because established plants are drought tolerant. Mulch well. Regular feeding with a slow release fertiliser improves flowering, while too much water pushes leaf at the expense of colour.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to keep the shape tidy, and support stems where you want to train them. Bougainvilleas often carry small thorns, so wear gloves.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Mahatma Gandhi Bougainvillea as tube stock only: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small plant with a few stems and a modest show of colour, and it needs a season to fill its space. Plant in warm weather, when the soil is warm, and tie the first stems to a support early.

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

• Bougainvillea care tips for strong colour
• See all our bougainvilleas
• More climbers for fences and trellises
• Plants that grow well in pots

Common questions

Why is mine leafy but not colourful?

Usually too much water, too much shade or too little feeding. Give it full sun, water lightly once it is established and feed regularly with a slow release fertiliser.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Its compact, cascading habit suits a large pot of free draining mix. Move the pot under cover on frosty nights, as the plant is frost tender.

Does it need a trellis?

It helps. The stems ramble rather than twine, so tie them to a low fence, wire or small trellis to direct growth. In a bed or pot it also sprawls happily without support.