They are thorny, evergreen and some are fragrant.
Bougainvilleas are native to South America.
The bracts are located below the inconspicuous true flowers. The color-range of bracts is white to cream to yellow and pink to mauve to purple to crimson to orange. The genus Bougainvillea contains several species. Many crosses among the various species of bougainvillea have produced new hybrid species and important horticultural cultivars. Bougainvilleas are vigorous and respond well to pruning and as a result they often are utilized as hedges in more tropical areas.