Bougainvillea: the most colourful plant that needs far less care than you think

If there is a plant that delivers maximum effect for minimum effort, it is the bougainvillea. That explosion of colour we see spilling over walls and gates all across the Mediterranean looks as if it demands a lot of care - and in fact it asks for less than you think.

First, one small surprising truth: those vivid pink, purple, orange or red “flowers” are not actually flowers at all. They are modified leaves called bracts, which the plant developed to attract pollinators. The real flower is the tiny white part in the middle.

The secret to a lush bougainvillea comes down to two things - sun and drainage. Sun is the most important factor: place it on the south or southwest side, where it gets at least five to six hours of direct light a day. A plant in partial shade will grow plenty of leaves but little colour. As for water, paradoxically, a little “thirst” suits it - controlled water stress encourages more bracts. In spring and summer, water once or twice a week, letting the soil dry out partly between waterings.

The biggest enemy is constant moisture, which rots the roots and ruins next season's bloom. So use well-drained soil mixed with sand or perlite, and in autumn and winter water less often. To feed it, reach for fertilisers rich in phosphorus and potassium every two to three weeks during the growing season, and avoid the ones heavy in nitrogen - they give you leaves instead of colour. That is all. Sun, a little water and patience - and the bougainvillea will colour your yard like no other plant.