This flowering machine is most commonly grown outdoors, and you may be wondering what to do in the cooler months. Here you’ll find bougainvillea winter care tips and helpful answers to frequently asked questions (which you’ll find at the end).
Beautiful bougainvillea is one of those plants that is unforgettable. You don’t want to miss this one when it’s in full bloom—the gorgeous flowers are out of this world!
MY LATEST VIDEOS
Bougainvillea care is a very popular topic amongst our readers here at Joy Us Garden. In this post, we’re focused on helping you prepare for bougainvillea care in the winter months and how to maintain your plant when cooler temperatures set in. This is a roundup of articles I’ve written on this subject all in 1 place for your reference.
Note: This post was published on 1/22/2020 & was updated on 1/17/2022 to give more information.
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Bougainvillea Plant Care: A Growing Guide Full Of Tips
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Answering Your Questions About Bougainvillea
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Answers To Your Questions About Peperomia Plant Care
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Indoor Plants In Winter: Key Care Tips To Keep Houseplants Alive
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The Big Winter Pruning & Training Of My Bougainvillea
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Planting Bougainvillea in Pots: Key Tips + The Mix To Use
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Answering Your Questions About String Of Pearls
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Answering Your Questions About Lavender
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Care Tips For Growing Hoya Plants Outdoors
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Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium) Care & Growing Tips
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Answering Your Questions About Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana
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Answering Your Questions About Christmas Cactus Plants
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Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) Care and Growing Tips: The Houseplants With The Fabulous Foliage
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Table of Contents
Bougainvillea In Winter
1. How To Care For Bougainvillea In Winter
2. How To Prune A Bougainvillea After A Freeze
3. How Is Bougainvillea After A Hard Freeze?
Bougainvillea Winter Care FAQs / Bougainvillea Winter Care Tips
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Bougainvillea In Winter
Note: I’ve grown Bougainvillea outdoors in 2 different climates. Santa Barbara, CA (USDA zones 10a & 10B) & Tucson, AZ (USDA zones 9a & 9b).
1. How To Care For Bougainvillea In Winter
Bougainvillea blooming slows down or discontinues when the weather turns cool because it needs to rest before the show starts again.
If you want your bougainvillea to thrive in the warmer growing season, there are a few things to know about Bougainvillea Winter Care.
close up of a beautiful barbara karst bougainvillea in full bloom
2. How To Prune A Bougainvillea After A Freeze
Even though I’ve been gardening for decades, I still learn new things! It never dipped too much below 35 degrees Fahrenheit when I lived in Santa Barbara (mild winters indeed) but now I’ve moved to Tucson which is a whole new horticultural ball game.
Whether it’s a hard or light freeze, it’s best to wait a bit and access what plan of action you’re going to take. The best time to start pruning is after the last danger of freeze has passed and the temps are warming.
One December, we had a 29-degree night here in the Sonoran Desert. So, I shared some new tips and tricks on how and when I prune Bougainvillea After A Light Freeze.
a red/rose bougainvillea barbara karst in spring against a white house
3. How Is Bougainvillea After A Hard Freeze?
I live in Tucson Arizona, which is USDA hardiness zone 9b. A few winters past rolled out some cold temperatures (for us anyway!).
A few nights dipped into the mid to upper 20s and most of the bougainvilleas were hit with a hard freeze. Here is my story on how I managed Bougainvillea Care After A Hard Freeze.
thin bougainvilleas in spring with a few flowers growing against a white house
4. An Update On Bougainvillea Hard Freeze 6 Weeks Later
I wanted to keep everyone updated on the freeze damage done to my bougainvillea. This is part 2. Bougainvillea with hard freeze damage (as long as the roots aren’t affected) is manageable.
a deep rose bougainvillea barbara karst beginning its bloom in spring
5. How Bougainvillea Comes Back After A Freeze
Have you ever wondered if and how bougainvillea would come back after a freeze? I found out firsthand the answer to this question firsthand a few years ago.
Yes, new colorful bracts (bougainvillea blooms) eventually appeared as the weather warmed. Here’s an update on how my Bougainvillea is doing 9 months after a few overnight freezes from that previous winter.
close of of the vibrant deep rose flowers of a bougainvillea barbara karst
6. What To Do About Light Freeze Damage On Bougainvilleas
I want to show you what light freeze damage looks like on bougainvilleas and tell you what my plan of action is. If you’re looking for additional help, you can read about what I did to save my Bougainvillea After an Overnight Freeze
bougainvillea after a light freeze, flowers have died back and lost the vibrancy in their color
Bougainvillea Winter Care FAQs / Bougainvillea Winter Care Tips
Note: I’ve grown bougainvilleas in 2 different climates – Santa Barbara, CA (USDA zones 10a & 10B) & Tucson, AZ (USDA zones 9a & 9b).
A few winters ago my bougainvilleas really got hit. This past winter was been milder than last winter and my bougainvilleas still have some flowers and most of their foliage was still on
