Bougainvillea Bougainvillea × buttiana 'Killie Campbell'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

The Bougainvillea 'Killie Campbell' is a striking plant known for its vibrant and showy bracts, which are often mistaken for flowers. The true flowers are small, white, and quite inconspicuous, nestled within these colorful, papery bracts. The bracts can come in a range of hues, including rich purples, pinks, or reds, creating a vivid display that can significantly beautify gardens and landscapes. The plant is a robust climber that frequently displays its bracts in clusters, which adds to its lush appearance. The leaves are typically green and have a slightly leathery texture, which provides a lovely contrast to the vibrant bracts. If grown in favorable conditions, the Bougainvillea 'Killie Campbell' can be a relentless bloomer, producing waves of colorful bracts throughout the warmer months. This particular variety can add a tropical flair to outdoor spaces and is often used as an ornamental plant because of its dramatic, colorful appearance. It is well-suited for growing against walls, trellises, or fences, where its climbing nature can be supported and showcased. The plant can also be pruned and maintained in a more contained fashion if desired.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Nyctaginaceae.
- Synonyms
  Bougainvillea, Paper Flower.
- Common names
  Bougainvillea × buttiana 'Killie Campbell'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Bougainvillea is generally not considered highly toxic to humans. However, ingestion can cause minor ailments such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some individuals. The plant's sap can cause skin irritation, and it is advisable to handle it with care. If ingested, it is not typically life-threatening but can cause discomfort.
- To pets
  Bougainvillea is also not highly toxic to pets. However, ingestion can result in similar symptoms as in humans, like vomiting or diarrhea. The thorns can cause physical injury if pets come into contact with them. Even though it is not considered deadly, it is still recommended to prevent pets from chewing on the plant to avoid any gastrointestinal upset.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters)
- Spread
  10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive ornamental: Adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes with its showy bracts.
- Drought-tolerance: Requires minimal watering once established, making it ideal for dry climates and water-wise gardening.
- Pest-resistant: Naturally resistant to many pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
- Rapid growth: Quickly covers walls, fences, and trellises, providing quick results for garden projects.
- Low maintenance: Needs minimal care beyond occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage blooming.
- Versatility: Can be trained as a shrub, ground cover, or climbing plant to suit various landscaping needs.
- Long blooming period: Produces flowers for much of the year, especially in warm climates, keeping gardens colorful.
- Habitat support: Attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, contributing to local biodiversity.
- Soil erosion control: Dense growth habit can help stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion.
- Heat tolerance: Thrives in hot temperatures, making it suitable for warm regions or urban heat islands.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Privacy Screens: Bougainvillea can be trained to grow along fences or walls, creating a vibrant and colorful privacy screen that deters trespassers with its thorny stems.
- Erosion Control: The dense growth habit and extensive root system of bougainvillea can help to stabilize soil on slopes, reducing the risk of erosion.
- Livestock Forage: In some regions, bougainvillea leaves and young shoots are occasionally fed to livestock as supplementary forage.
- Craft Material: The wood and dried bracts of bougainvillea are sometimes used to create crafts, such as wreaths and floral arrangements.
- Thematic Landscaping: Bougainvillea is a popular choice for creating specific landscaping themes, such as Mediterranean or tropical styles.
- Photography Backdrops: Due to its vivid color and lush appearance, bougainvillea is often used as a natural backdrop for outdoor photography sessions.
- Habitat for Wildlife: Bougainvillea can provide shelter and food for various types of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and bees, contributing to biodiversity.
- Climatic Modification: When planted in large numbers, bougainvillea can influence microclimates by providing shade and lowering surrounding temperatures.
- Festive Decorations: In many cultures, bougainvillea flowers are used to decorate homes and public spaces during festivals and celebrations.
- Color Dye: The bracts of bougainvillea can be boiled to extract a natural dye for fabrics or art projects.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Bougainvillea is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Bougainvillea is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion: Bougainvillea, with its vibrant and abundant flowers, often represents passion and intense emotions.
- Beauty: The plant is known for its stunning appearance, symbolizing beauty and a vivid display of color.
- Welcome: In some cultures, bougainvillea is planted around homes as a sign of welcome, with the flowers greeting visitors with their brightness.
- Persistence: Bougainvillea plants are hardy and can thrive in difficult conditions, suggesting resilience and determination.
- Protection: The thorns that accompany the plant’s flowers symbolize a protective barrier against negativity and harm.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Bougainvilleas, including the 'Killie Campbell', should be watered deeply once a week during active growth periods in spring and summer, but less frequently during the fall and winter. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again to prevent root rot. In hot climates or in containers, you may need to water more often to maintain consistent soil moisture. Water the plant with approximately 1 gallon each time, ensuring that the water penetrates the root zone without leaving the soil waterlogged. Adjust watering frequency based on rainfall, temperature, and humidity levels, as bougainvilleas are drought-tolerant once established and prefer drier conditions.
Light
Bougainvillea 'Killie Campbell' thrives in full sun, enjoying at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. To ensure vibrant blooms and healthy growth, place it in the sunniest spot in your garden or a south-facing location if grown indoors. Adequate sunlight is crucial for this plant as insufficient light can lead to poor flowering and leggy growth.
Temperature
Bougainvillea 'Killie Campbell' performs best in temperatures ranging from 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive minimal cold spells down to about 30 degrees Fahrenheit but should be protected from frost. To encourage profuse blooming and vigorous growth, maintaining an environment within the ideal temperature range is important.
Pruning
Prune the Bougainvillea 'Killie Campbell' immediately after the blooming cycle is over to shape the plant and promote new flowering growth. Removing dead wood and cutting back long, non-flowering stems encourages the plant to produce more blooms. Pruning 2 to 3 times during the season helps maintain a compact form and enhances the overall health of the plant. The best time for major pruning is in early spring, just before new growth begins.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Bougainvillea is one that is well-draining with a mixture of loam, peat, and coarse sand or perlite. Aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.0 for optimal growth and blooming.
Repotting
Bougainvilleas should be repotted every 2-3 years or when they outgrow their current pot, ensuring not to disturb the roots too much as they prefer to be root-bound.
Humidity & Misting
Bougainvillea prefers moderate to low humidity levels, as too much humidity can lead to fungal diseases. They thrive in the typical humidity found in most outdoor settings.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure full sun, minimal watering, and good air circulation for indoor Bougainvillea.
- Outdoor
  Place in full sun, protect from frost, and ensure well-draining soil for outdoor Bougainvilleas.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
Bougainvillea × buttiana 'Killie Campbell', commonly known as Bougainvillea, begins its life cycle with seed germination, where it requires warm temperatures and well-drained soil to develop. The seedling stage follows, during which young plants establish themselves, developing roots and foliage. Vegetative growth ensues, as the plant develops a sturdy woody vine structure with sharp thorns and green leaves. Bougainvillea enters the flowering stage when conditions are favorable—plenty of sunlight, warm temperatures, and a dry season—resulting in vibrant bracts surrounding small, white flowers. After pollination, the plant produces tiny, dry fruits containing seeds, which are dispersed to repeat the life cycle. Throughout its life, Bougainvillea can undergo periods of active growth and dormancy, responding to seasonal weather patterns and local climate conditions.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Bougainvillea × buttiana 'Killie Campbell', commonly known as Bougainvillea, is often propagated through softwood cuttings. This method is usually performed during the summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate, a cutting of about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long is taken from a healthy, non-flowering stem. The lower leaves of the cutting are removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The cutting is then planted in a well-draining soil mix and kept moist. It is important to provide a warm environment and indirect light until the new plants have rooted, which typically takes 4-6 weeks. Once rooted, the young Bougainvillea can be transplanted to a more permanent location where they can continue to grow and thrive.