Bougainvillea root hardiness?

[Ben G.]

I've done some digging online, but I can't seem to find much about how root hardy bougainvilleas are. I live in the San Antonio Texas area, and I think it would be fun to plant one in a bed right next to our back porch steps and railings, to let it climb on the railing. Some winters I think it would be ok in that fairly protected location, but we get some winters that are pretty cold now and again.

At what temps do bougainvilleas get frost damage? At what temps do they die back to the roots? At what temps do the roots completely die?

I know there will likely be various answers depending on climate factors or different bougainvillea varieties. I am just looking for some experiences. Thanks!

[Silas_Sancona]

14 minutes ago, Ben G. said:

I've done some digging online, but I can't seem to find much about how root hardy bougainvilleas are. I live in the San Antonio Texas area, and I think it would be fun to plant one in a bed right next to our back porch steps and railings, to let it climb on the railing. Some winters I think it would be ok in that fairly protected location, but we get some winters that are pretty cold now and again.

At what temps do bougainvilleas get frost damage? At what temps do they die back to the roots? At what temps do the roots completely die?

I know there will likely be various answers depending on climate factors or different bougainvillea varieties. I am just looking for some experiences. Thanks!

Here, i'll see " top burn " to tender foliage on the old skool Bougs in the yard /  planted ....everywhere ..on this side of town after a couple mornings bottoming out at 30-29F for longer than 4 or 5 hours..

Torch Glows, a pretty much thorn-less bush-type seem to only defoliate a little / suffer minimal tip burn to tender- er growth in the same Temp. range.  ...Ones i planted out front both here and at the old house / other specimens planted in front of the Doc. offices across the street at least..

One planted in a west facing corner of the back yard seems to never get nipped ..that i've noticed anyway.  Planted all over this side of town. Like them much better that the " grows- like a- super- weed " older varieties. 

Look great trimmed lightly / occasionally ...just a little...  Specimens in the last pic looking better than the 1st.







I've heard of the older Bougs  returning from the roots  after being cut down by a dip into the mid / lower 20s  but ..that doesn't happen here ..so i've never experienced that.  Don't remember what happened to my grandparent's after the 1990 freeze back in San Jose. Might be when they got yanked out.

Some landscapers here will cut " Freeway Bougs " down to about a foot / 15" tall nubs and they start pushing new growth as soon as it has been above 75F for a week / 10 days.

...Returning after being frozen down by temps. lower than that?  that i couldn't tell you..  Might give me a great excuse for getting rid of the two Barbara Karst here though, haha..  I'm currently looking for  any   reason to make them " disappear "..😁

[Ben G.]

Thank you for providing so much good info. I know our two climates aren't analogous, but this at least gives me somewhere to start experimenting.

[richtrav]

My grandmother had an old red Barbara Karst type of bougainvillea outside San Antonio that came back from the root every year, even in the 1980s. It would usually bloom by the following September. Nathan is right, the Torch Glow takes a little more cold, what they used to call Convent with the dark purple bracts and dark green leaves is the most cold resistant but I find it tricky to grow, even though there are some beauties right up the street.

If you live somewhere where it’s going to freeze to the ground every year you want the fastest growing one you can get. Those old reds should be among the best.

[Ben G.]

1 hour ago, richtrav said:

My grandmother had an old red Barbara Karst type of bougainvillea outside San Antonio that came back from the root every year, even in the 1980s. It would usually bloom by the following September. Nathan is right, the Torch Glow takes a little more cold, what they used to call Convent with the dark purple bracts and dark green leaves is the most cold resistant but I find it tricky to grow, even though there are some beauties right up the street.

If you live somewhere where it’s going to freeze to the ground every year you want the fastest growing one you can get. Those old reds should be among the best.

Thank you. I will give one or two a try and see what works best. My wife likes the purple varieties by far the best, while I think they are all pretty great. I will probably try to find one of the purple ones you mentioned as well as a red variety as well.

[Chester B]

I was at a plant seminar this weekend and apparently they are root hardy at least here in Houston.   I was told expect 10 feet of growth per season, so are worth growing if we get a killing frost.  I now plan to add some in to my place at one point.

[Than]

On 6/20/2024 at 6:51 AM, Ben G. said:

I've done some digging online, but I can't seem to find much about how root hardy bougainvilleas are. I live in the San Antonio Texas area, and I think it would be fun to plant one in a bed right next to our back porch steps and railings, to let it climb on the railing. Some winters I think it would be ok in that fairly protected location, but we get some winters that are pretty cold now and again.

At what temps do bougainvilleas get frost damage? At what temps do they die back to the roots? At what temps do the roots completely die?

I know there will likely be various answers depending on climate factors or different bougainvillea varieties. I am just looking for some experiences. Thanks!

Where I grew up, in zone 9a, Bougainvilleas wouldn't survive the winter. Temperatures below 32F for a day or two would suffice to kill them. In southern Greece, zone 10a they survive fine, they are all over the place. I'd say 9b is marginal.