The Best Time To Prune Bougainvillea For Longer-Lasting Blooms

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is an eye-catching tropical vine that grows in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11 and is known for its vibrant, paper-like blooms that add a burst of color to gardens and patios. It can even be helpful in keeping unwanted visitors off your property when planted along the top of walls or fences, thanks to its long thorns. Pruning is an important part of bougainvillea care. The best time to do any major pruning is in late winter or early spring, just before the growing season begins. Since bougainvillea is a vigorous grower, doing some pruning periodically throughout the year is beneficial for the overall appearance and health of the plant.

Without proper pruning, bougainvillea can get out of control and look messy and unkempt. If you stay on top of pruning from the very beginning, you can actually control the shape of the plant, how much it grows, and even train it to grow along trellises, fences, and walls. The right pruning will result in a riot of color that is absolutely stunning. If you're considering adding this colorful vine to your yard, there are some important things to know before planting that can help your bougainvillea get started on the right foot.

As with any plant, make sure you are pruning with clean, sharp pruners for the best results, and wear gloves to protect your hands from the thorns. Before digging in, take a broad look at the plant so you can see the areas that need the most attention. Any dead or diseased branches should be your first targets. Depending on your preferences, be sure to look for overly dense spots that need to be thinned out by removing any branches that overlap significantly. 

This is a good time to get rid of any growth that is outside of the area you want your bougainvillea to be in. You can prune your bougainvillea to be as dense as you like, or you can opt for a looser, more open look by removing more of the inside branches.

After you have taken care of the majority of the pruning you intend to do, you can tip-prune the branches to encourage more blooms. Tip-pruning involves trimming the plant below the terminal (final) bud on a branch, which encourages new branches to grow where it was cut. If your bougainvillea is not a climbing vine but planted in a container as more of a shrub, prune and shape it as you desire to keep that shrubby look. You can prune climbing or shrub bougainvillea again in the middle of summer to encourage another round of blooms. Whether you add bougainvillea to upgrade your home security or you want to put in a pollinator-friendly option for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to enjoy, this flowering plant is sure to please.