It is a species native to Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. It has naturalised in nearby South American countries, a small part of Africa and India, as well as on some Atlantic islands.
In its natural habitat it behaves as a perennial in rainy areas, and as a deciduous plant in areas with a very dry season.
It is widely distributed in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where it is widely used as an ornamental species, very suitable for covering or upholstering porches, entrances, walls, columns, fences, walls, pergolas, trellises or roofs.
It is easy to grow and fast-growing. It is not very demanding in terms of soil and watering, but it needs full sun exposure. The most important thing for this plant is pruning, as it tends to grow excessively, so it is necessary to remove dry or damaged branches, and to stimulate the formation of new stems, which are the ones that produce the flowers.
In its native areas it is widely used as a medicinal remedy, being used to combat respiratory ailments such as coughs, asthma, bronchitis, flu and whooping cough. It is also used to treat children's aphtheria, stomach pain, urinary tract disorders and acne. And the decoction of the leaves or roots as a laxative, to reduce fever, and to wash wounds.
Of all the species of the genus Bougainvillea, the best known and most widely used in gardening are Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea spectabilis. But there are also numerous varieties and cultivars that offer a wide range of shapes and above all colouring of the flowers, which can be white, pink, yellow, red, magenta, purple, etc.
The name Bougainvillea was given to this genus in honour of the French navigator Louis de Bougainville, who dedicated his life to organising expeditions to the American continent.
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