Bougainvillea Trees, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
A bougainvillea tree is a bougainvillea trained to a single trunk with a rounded crown of colorful bracts, and it does well in full sun across most of Southwest Florida. It blooms most in the dry, cooler months, takes salt and drought, and needs little water. It has thorns and dislikes frost. Trees come in 7, 15 and 25 gallon, delivered and planted.
- Light:
- Full sun only
- Water:
- Low; drought tolerant, let the soil dry between waterings
- Salt:
- Moderate
Bougainvillea Tree 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.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Bougainvillea Tree | 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon, 25 Gallon |
Bougainvillea Tree in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 10 ft tall and about as wide when pruned; 15 to 20 ft if left alone
- Light
- Full sun only
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant, let the soil dry between waterings
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves drop and tops burn in frost, and a hard freeze can kill the crown. Cover inland trees on frost nights.
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Bougainvillea spp.
Where Bougainvillea Tree works in a SW Florida yard
Use a bougainvillea tree as a focal point where it gets all-day sun and you will not brush past it: the corner of a front bed, a driveway circle or a big pot. A pair frames an entry well.
Keep it away from walkways, pool decks and play areas because of the thorns. Underplant with low, sun-loving plants like Blue Daze, Bulbine or Society Garlic that need little water.
- Entry and driveway accent
- Sunny front-yard focal tree
- Large patio container
- Dry-season color
How our crew plants it
Choose the sunniest, best-drained spot you have. Bougainvillea resents root disturbance, so the root ball goes in intact rather than broken up, level with the soil in a hole twice as wide.
A tree form needs a stake and soft ties for the first year or two until the trunk holds the crown. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings.
Care after planting
- Keep it on the dry side, watering new plants as allowed and then letting the soil dry between waterings, since too much water and fertilizer give leaves instead of color.
- Prune after each bloom flush to shape the crown and bring on the next round of color, and do it in heavy gloves.
- Use a light, low-nitrogen fertilizer with micronutrients, and none at all with nitrogen or phosphorus during the June 1 to September 30 ban.
- Check the stake and ties each spring and loosen any that bind the trunk.
What to watch for
- The thorns are sharp and 1 to 2 inches long, so keep the tree away from walkways and play areas and prune in long sleeves and gloves.
- Looper caterpillars can strip leaves and bracts in the warm months, so catch them early and treat the foliage.
Bougainvillea Tree questions we hear
When does a bougainvillea tree bloom in Southwest Florida?+
The heaviest color comes in the cooler, drier months, roughly late fall through spring, with smaller flushes after pruning. Wet summers and too much fertilizer give leaves instead of color. Prune after each flush to bring the next one on.
How big does a bougainvillea tree get?+
Kept pruned, it stays 6 to 10 ft tall with a round crown of similar width. Left alone it can run 15 to 20 ft and turn into a sprawling mass. A 7 gallon tree suits a smaller space, while 15 and 25 gallon trees give an instant focal point.
Does a bougainvillea tree survive frost in Cape Coral?+
Frost burns the leaves and tips, and a hard freeze can kill the crown. Many trees resprout from the trunk, but you may lose the tree shape for a season. Coastal Lee rarely sees that cold. Inland, cover the tree on frost nights and plant it near a south wall.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bougainvillea Tree
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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