Bougainvillea, Delivered and Planted in Cape Coral and SW Florida
Bougainvillea is one of the toughest color plants for SW Florida: it wants all-day sun, lean dry soil and little water, and it answers with sheets of red, purple, pink or white bracts that peak in winter. We deliver and plant five selections, from a trellis-grown pink to a compact dwarf, so you can cover a wall, fill a border or dress up a container.
- Light:
- Full sun, all day; blooms poorly in shade
- Water:
- Low; drought tolerant once established, let it dry between waterings
- Salt:
- Moderate
Bougainvillea sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bougainvillea Red & Purple | 3 Gallon | A single variety with red-purple bracts, in 3 gallon. |
| Bougainvillea White | 3 Gallon | Pure white bracts that stand out against dark walls and fences, in 3 gallon. |
| Bougainvillea Trellis Pink | 7 Gallon | A large pink plant already trained on a trellis for fast coverage of a fence or wall, in 7 gallon. |
| Bougainvillea Purple Bush | 3 Gallon | Purple bracts on a compact shrub form, in 3 gallon. |
| Bougainvillea Dwarf | 3 Gallon, 7 Gallon | A compact mounding type that stays about 2 to 4 ft, in 3 and 7 gallon. |
Bougainvillea in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 20 ft if left alone, usually kept at 6 to 10 ft; dwarf types stay 2 to 4 ft
- Light
- Full sun, all day; blooms poorly in shade
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant once established, let it dry between waterings
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves drop and tips burn near 32°F; a hard freeze can kill it back, and it often resprouts from the base. Coastal Lee is usually fine, cover young plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Spacing
- 4 to 5 ft apart on a fence or wall; 2 to 3 ft for dwarf types
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Bougainvillea spp.
Where Bougainvillea works in a SW Florida yard
Bougainvillea belongs where the sun is hottest and the soil is leanest, such as a west wall, a pool fence, a driveway edge or a berm that bakes in summer. The trellis and standard types climb walls, arbors and fences when tied, while the bush and dwarf types suit beds, borders and big pots.
Keep it back from walkways and pool decks because of the thorns. Texas sage, agave and blue daze share its love of heat and sandy soil.
- Fence and wall cover
- Trellis or arbor color
- Hot, dry sunny beds
- Container and border accent
How our crew plants it
Bougainvillea resents root disturbance, so the root ball is handled gently and set level with the surrounding soil, with no wet-holding amendments. In a low spot it goes on a slight rise so water drains away, and a trellis or arbor plant is tied to its support at planting.
Our crew finishes with a deep watering and cleans up. New plants get regular water for the first couple of months, which Lee and Collier allow for new plantings, and very little after that.
Care after planting
- Water deeply but rarely once it is established, because constant irrigation grows leaves instead of color, so keep it off sprinkler zones that run daily.
- Go light on nitrogen, since too much grows leaves instead of bracts, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer entirely from June 1 to September 30 under Lee County, Naples and Marco Island rules.
- Tip-trim lightly after each flush of color and do the main shaping in late winter or early spring, because hard cuts in late summer or early fall cost you winter bloom.
- Wear heavy gloves and long sleeves when pruning, since the thorns are sharp.
- Cover young plants on frost nights if you are inland, in places like Lehigh Acres or North Fort Myers.
What to watch for
- Leaf-chewing loopers, small green caterpillars, show up in warm weather; hand-pick them or use a Bt caterpillar spray, and the plant recovers.
- The thorns are sharp, so plant it away from walkways, play areas and pool decks.
- Overwatering and poorly drained soil cause leaf drop and root rot, especially in the rainy season.
Bougainvillea questions we hear
Does bougainvillea grow well in Cape Coral and Fort Myers?+
Yes, it is one of the best color plants for the area. Bougainvillea loves heat, full sun and sandy soil, and it needs little water once rooted. Its main risks here are frost inland, soggy ground in the rainy season and too much fertilizer.
Why is my bougainvillea not blooming?+
Usually it has too little sun, too much water or too much nitrogen. Bougainvillea needs all-day sun, dry stretches between waterings and low-nitrogen feeding. Plants on a daily lawn sprinkler zone grow leaves and no color. A light trim after a flush pushes the next round of bracts.
How far apart should I plant bougainvillea for a hedge or wall?+
Plant standard and trellis types 4 to 5 ft apart along a fence or wall, and dwarf types 2 to 3 ft apart in a bed. Bougainvillea does not cling on its own, so the stems need to be tied to the fence, trellis or wires as they grow.
Is bougainvillea salt tolerant?+
Moderately. It handles light coastal spray and sandy soil, which is why it is common on Gulf-side yards, but heavy salt wind scorches the leaves. On open waterfront lots, plant it behind a wall or hedge for protection.
Can bougainvillea survive a freeze in Southwest Florida?+
A light frost burns the leaves and tips, and a hard freeze can kill the top growth. The roots often survive and resprout in spring. Coastal Lee and Collier rarely freeze, but inland sites can, so cover young plants and wait until spring to prune out dead wood.
How much does it cost to plant bougainvillea?+
Cost depends on the size and form, whether trellis, bush or dwarf, and how many plants you need. Text the address and what you want covered, and a planted price comes back by text, usually within the hour during the day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bougainvillea
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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