Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, is the name of a group of South American shrubs and climbing vines. They grow to a height of 10 feet (3 meters) or more. They have small flowers that are enclosed by large, colorful bracts(modified leaves). The bracts may be red, purple, pink, orange, or pale yellow.They are often grown as porch climbers in the South and in California, and for hedges in South America. They must be kept in greenhouses in colder climates because frost kills them. They are raised from sterns cut from older plants.