Bougainvillea is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Bougainvillea on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether bougainvillea actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score bougainvillea against your land's real conditions.
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What Bougainvillea is
Bougainvillea grows as a perennial and reaches around 20 feet at maturity. It blooms pink in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Bougainvillea does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 3,500 growing degree days to mature, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
50°F
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
3500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
20 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set bougainvillea in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Bougainvillea prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — bougainvillea isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Bougainvillea offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Bougainvillea thrives
Bougainvillea is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Bougainvillea growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Bougainvillea can grow in these states:
See if Bougainvillea will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether bougainvillea actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Bougainvillea in my zone?
Bougainvillea grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Bougainvillea?
Set bougainvillea out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Bougainvillea need?
Bougainvillea needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Bougainvillea need?
Bougainvillea prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Bougainvillea attract pollinators?
Yes — bougainvillea's flowers are a modest nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Bougainvillea safe for pets?
Bougainvillea is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.