Bougainvillea: The Vibrant Paper Flower

The Bougainvillea, botanical name Bougainvillea spectabilis, is a hardy and prolific flowering tropical vine that is native to South America. Specifically, it hails from Brazil, Peru, and Argentina's rain forests. It was discovered during the round-the-world voyage of explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville in the 18th century, who named it after his friend and ship's admiral, Hyppolyte de Bougainville. Today, Bougainvillea can be found in many parts of the world with a warm climate, including regions of southern North America, India, parts of Southeast Asia, Northern Australia, and the Mediterranean countries. This beautiful and vibrant plant has a dense, bushy habit that can cover entire walls or trellises with its striking display of color. What is often mistaken for the plant's flowers are the three large bracts that surround the tiny, inconspicuous true flowers. These bracts come in a variety of brilliant colors, including pink, purple, red, orange, white or yellow. Its characteristic sharp thorns are both a means of climbing and a defense against herbivores. Among the many interesting facts about the Bougainvillea, its adaptability stands out. It can thrive in a range of soil types and demands very little water once established, making the plant drought-tolerant. Its ease of propagation and minimal maintenance needs make it a popular plant in gardens and landscapes. In fact, due to its rapid growth and spreading nature, in some countries, it’s even considered invasive. Bougainvilleas have been widely hybridized, with over 300 varieties known today. The plant also holds cultural significance in several countries; in the Philippines, it’s the unofficial national flower, while in Guam, it is used to make crowns for the “Fiestan Tasi” (Water Festival). The plant also has medicinal uses; certain compounds extracted from it have been used in traditional medicine to alleviate coughs, and recent studies have also explored its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.