PAPERFLOWER
BOUGAINVILLEA GLABRA
If given enough support, this showy climber will quickly decorate your room with magnificent, floor-to-ceiling color, thanks to its papery bracts. This is the ideal plant for a hot conservatory—it will flourish in the sunlight while also providing you with some shade.
HEIGHT Up to 20ft (6m)
SPREAD Up to 5ft (1.5m)
FLOWERS Pink, red, or white
FOLIAGE Small, green
LIGHT Sun
TEMPERATURE 50–79°F (10–26°C)
CARE Fairly easy
PLACE OF ORIGIN South America
WARNING! All parts are toxic; gloves required when handling
CARE
The paperflower enjoys heat, bright light, and low humidity, which makes it a winning plant for a south-facing room or conservatory. If you give it a trellis to climb up, it will soon cover a wall, but you can keep it smaller by pruning to size and training it over a hoop.
If you want your plant to climb, put it in a large, sturdy container with enriched potting mix. By using a large pot you can avoid repotting it every spring—simply add a fresh layer of potting mix to the top of the pot. Add slow-release, balanced, granular fertilizer in spring. Water well from spring to fall; reduce watering in winter.
Prune in late winter, as the flowers are produced on the new season’s growth. If you prune in early summer you’re in danger of missing out on the wonderful paper bracts that surround the tiny central blooms. You can propagate this spectacular tropical climber by taking cuttings in summer.
PROBLEM SOLVING When paper flower plants are grown in a very hot conservatory their leaves may be scorched by the direct sunlight. Avoid this, if possible, by adding shading to the structure in high summer. If the temperature of the conservatory drops below 50°F (10°C) in winter, the leaves may drop. The plant could be attacked by mealybugs, but if you spot the white cottony fluff early enough, wipe them off with a damp cloth.
If space is an issue, train this plant over a hoop and keep it clipped to size.
DISPLAY
Living walls and climbers are becoming more popular as they make a big impact and take up very little floor space. Allow your paperflower to share a wall or trellis with the magnificently scented jasmine or the Cape leadwort and, if they flower all at once—which is very possible—you’ll have a truly enviable display.
Tiny white flowers offset this plant's spectacular pink bracts.
Houseplants A–Z | PAPERFLOWER
ALSO TRY
Consider partnering your paper- flower with some equally stunning climbers, such as passionflowers, if you’re planning to cover your walls. These tropical-looking plants will grow up a trellis but can easily be kept more compact by pruning. Good options include:
- Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), height 13ft (4m). This intricate and eye-catching plant enjoys the same hot conditions as the paper flower.
- Red passionflower (Passiflora racemosa), height 13ft (4m). This is a more tender and challenging plant than the paperflower but has wonderful red blooms in summer, followed by fruits.