Bougainvillea ‘San Diego Red’ is a highly popular cultivar of Bougainvillea, known for its striking deep red bracts and vigorous growth habit. It is favored in warm climates for its bold color and ability to thrive in challenging environments.
Characteristics
Bracts and Flowers
- Bracts: ‘San Diego Red’ is characterized by its vibrant, deep red bracts, which often appear almost crimson or scarlet. These bracts are not the actual flowers but colorful modified leaves that surround the small, white, tubular true flowers.
- Flowers: The true flowers of Bougainvillea are small and white, found in the center of the bracts. Though tiny, they are quite distinct when surrounded by the bold red color of the bracts.
Foliage
- Leaves: The leaves are dark green, oval to slightly heart-shaped, providing a rich contrast to the bright red bracts.
- Thorns: Like most Bougainvillea varieties, ‘San Diego Red’ has sharp thorns along its stems, which help it support its climbing habit but can make pruning or handling more challenging.
Growth Habit
- Vining and Climbing: It is a fast-growing, vining plant that can reach up to 15-30 feet in height, making it ideal for covering walls, fences, arbors, and trellises. With proper pruning, it can also be shaped into a bush or trained as a hedge.
- Vigorous Growth: ‘San Diego Red’ is particularly known for its robust and vigorous growth, making it a great choice for quickly covering large areas.
Blooming Season
- Flowering: Bougainvillea ‘San Diego Red’ blooms profusely in spring and summer, but in warm climates, it may flower nearly year-round. Its peak blooming period typically occurs from late spring through fall.
Hardiness
- Zones: It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, where temperatures remain relatively warm year-round. It is not frost-hardy, so in cooler climates, it should be grown in containers that can be moved indoors during colder months.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, ‘San Diego Red’ is highly drought-tolerant, making it a perfect choice for arid regions or water-wise gardens.
Cultivation
- Light: Requires full sun to thrive and produce its vibrant blooms. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight is ideal.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is crucial; it can handle a variety of soil types as long as they drain well. A mix of sand, loam, and some organic matter works well.
- Watering: Once established, ‘San Diego Red’ is quite drought-tolerant. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions to encourage blooming.
- Fertilization: Use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content to promote blooming. However, avoid excessive nitrogen which can lead to lush foliage at the cost of flowers.
- Pruning: Can be pruned after blooming to shape the plant or control its size. This variety responds well to hard pruning, which can rejuvenate the plant and encourage more vigorous flowering.
- Support: If grown as a climber, it will need a trellis, arbor, or other structure for support. When grown as a shrub, occasional support might still be necessary to manage its sprawling nature.
- Pests and Diseases: Generally resistant, but can be susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and caterpillars. Good air circulation helps prevent fungal issues, which can occur in humid conditions.
- Cold Protection: In areas with cooler winters, protect from frost or grow in containers that can be moved indoors. Mulching can help protect the roots from cold snaps.
- Propagation: Can be propagated from hardwood cuttings taken in late winter or early spring, or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, often with the aid of rooting hormone.