Pink bougainvillea adorn a fence

Click for bigger picture, then click backwards.

Another batch of flowers in my neighbourhood. Bougainvillea are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. They are rapid growing and flower all year in warm climates, especially when pruned. Bloom cycles are typically four to six weeks. The plants require little water to flower.

As indoor houseplants in temperate regions, they can be kept small by bonsai techniques.

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America. Different authors claim between four and 18 species in the genus. The name comes from Louis Antoine de Bougainville, an admiral in the French Navy who discovered the plant in Brazil in 1768.

Bougainvillea is often referred to as "paper flower" because the petals are thin and papery. But they have very bright and vibrant color.