Plant Family: Nyctaginaceae, Bougainvillea arborea is a thornless and fragrant species.

Description: One of the most colorful and common ornamental shrubs in the Caribbean; grows from 3-6 m (10-20 ft) tall with many straggling branches; a strong and quick-growing climber whose stem has thorns which helps the shrub climb; is often pruned to the shape of a shrub or small tree; alternate, stalked leaves, almost triangular in shape; flowers grow in large clusters in axillary panicles; the true flowers are small, insignificant structures occurring in threes, each attached to the inside of the enlarged, colorful bracts; colors are primarily purple and red, but may vary to pink, rose, orange and white.

Natural Habitat: Likes sunny locations with little to moderate rainfall.

Origin and Distribution: Native to Brazil; distributed throughout Caribbean and the tropical and sub-tropical world.

Uses: Ornamental, as free-standing shrub, or growing on arbors, fences and walls; one of the most popular, spectacular and beautiful tropical plants.

Indigenous Legends: The plant is named after the French navigator Admiral Louis De Bougainville.

References:
G.W. Lennox and S.A. Seddon. Flowers of the Caribbean. Macmillan, London 1978
H.F. Macmillan. Tropical Planting and Gardening, Macmillan, London 1956
US National Tropical Botanical Gardens, (ntbg.org). Kalaheo, Hawaii, 2004.