Bougainvillea is widely admired for its vibrant, paper-like displays of color. While these showy parts are often mistaken for the plant’s flowers, understanding its true floral structure and the pollinators it attracts is important. This knowledge helps gardeners support the plant’s role in ecosystems.
The True Flower of Bougainvillea
The most striking feature of bougainvillea is not its true flower, but the colorful, papery structures surrounding them, known as bracts. These modified leaves come in a wide array of hues, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, and yellow. Bracts serve as visual advertisements, signaling nectar to potential pollinators.
Nestled within these prominent bracts are the plant’s actual flowers. These true flowers are small, often white or yellowish, and tubular or trumpet-shaped, making them relatively inconspicuous. Despite their small size, these true flowers produce nectar and pollen, which attract pollinators. The arrangement of the small true flowers within the showy bracts ensures pollinators are drawn to the plant and facilitate reproduction.
Primary Pollinators of Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea attracts a range of pollinators due to the nectar from its true flowers and the visual cues from its vibrant bracts. Hummingbirds are significant pollinators, drawn to the bright, warm colors and the tubular shape of the flowers, which suit their long beaks. They access nectar by inserting their beaks into the nectary at the flower’s base.
Butterflies are also common visitors, attracted by the colorful bracts and nectar. They use their proboscis to reach nectar within the small, tubular flowers.
Certain types of bees, including solitary bees, visit bougainvillea for pollen and nectar. While the long, trumpet-shaped flowers can make nectar access challenging for bees with shorter tongues, bees are attracted to colors like blue, purple, and yellow found in some varieties. When pollinators visit for nectar, they inadvertently pick up pollen and transfer it to other flowers, aiding the plant’s reproductive cycle.
Why Pollination Matters for Bougainvillea
Pollination enables seed production in bougainvillea. Successful pollination leads to the formation of seeds, which are essential for the plant’s sexual reproduction and for maintaining genetic diversity. While cultivated bougainvillea is often propagated through cuttings, natural pollination still occurs.
In its native South American range, bougainvillea grows as a woody vine, shrub, or tree. Even if cultivated bougainvillea does not produce many viable seeds, the plant contributes to the local ecosystem by providing a valuable nectar source for various pollinators. This interaction supports pollinator populations, which in turn benefit other plants in the ecosystem.
Encouraging Pollinators in Your Bougainvillea Garden
To attract pollinators to bougainvillea, gardeners can implement several practices. Plant bougainvillea in full sun, as it requires at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and abundant blooms. Healthy, actively blooming plants offer more nectar and pollen.
Avoiding systemic pesticides is another practical step. These chemicals are absorbed by the plant and can be present in pollen and nectar, harming pollinators. Instead, consider integrated pest management strategies that prioritize pollinator safety. Providing a shallow water source, such as a bird bath with stones, offers a safe drinking spot for pollinators.
Companion planting with other pollinator-friendly species can create a more diverse and attractive habitat. Plants like Lantana, Hibiscus, Plumbago, and Salvia, which share similar sun and soil requirements with bougainvillea, can enhance the garden’s appeal to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Creating a varied landscape with multiple food sources supports a broader range of pollinator species.