Bugambilia Plant Care

Bugambilia is a member of the four-o-clock family.


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Bugambilia is the Spanish common name for the evergreen or nearly evergreen, shrubby climbing vine bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.). The plant's small flowers are surrounded by large bracts, its most decorative feature, making it an attractive bush or an effective ground cover for banks as well as a vine. This plant is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9b to 11 and is grown in planters or containers in cooler climates.


Bugambilia require a sunny location to thrive. The best location is one where the plant receives at least six hours of sunlight daily, but the plant blooms best is when it receives 12 hour of sunlight daily. When planted in a shady area, the plant drops its bracts. Indoors, the planter or container in room where the bugambilia receives direct sun for at least half the day.


Bugambilia prefers rich, loamy soil, but is tolerant of various soil types, including sandy, clay, slightly-acidic and alkaline soils. Outdoors, amend the soil with coarse sand or perlite to improve drainage. Indoors, any type of well-drained potting mix can be used to grow bugambilia in containers. The plant does poorly in constantly wet soil and proper pH levels are vital to the plants survival. Soil pH for bugambilia should not be above 6.0.

Water and Fertilization

Bugambilia thrive in moist soil, but the plant tolerates some drought. Consistently wet soil can lead to root rot, so well-drained soil is preferred. Bugambilia are heavy feeders and require feeding twice a year with a 1-1-1 or 2-1-1 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium solution. Overfeeding the plant leads to leafy plants with less blooms. Bugambilia grown indoors may need more sun or fertilizer when not blooming. You can give container plants weekly or biweekly feedings with a controlled-release, water-soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer.


The bugambilia can be pruned to maintain a specific shape, growth pattern or plant size. The plant tolerates heavy pruning and may be cut anytime of the year to shape, as frequent cuttings encourages new growth and more blooms. Any major pruning should be delayed until after the plants growth period. You can train several bugambilia plants as a hedge or prune one plant to maintain a tree shape.

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Molly Allman


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