Bougainvillea buttiana
(sold as Barbara Karst)
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Synonyms: Bougainvillea barbara karst, Bougainvillea x buttiana
Native to: Subtropical South America, Tropical South America
Sentiment: passion
Plant
Type: vine
Form: spreading
Leaves evergreen
Max height: 0.00 feet
Max width: 32.8 feet
Flower
pink, red, secondary color present
Leaf
green
new growth distinct
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, specific butterfly species
Plant features: climbing vine, evergreen, growth rate fast
Exposure: light shade, sun
Landscape uses: arbor, container, ground cover, trellis or espalier
Fast growing
Propagates by: cutting
flowers in summer
Soil type: wide range
USDA Zones: zone 9 to +20 f, zone 10 to +30 f
Temp. range: +20 to +30 °F
Water: moderate, regular
Butterflies that feed on this plant
apical
flower
margin
Bougainvillea buttiana, 'Barbara Karst', is a really nice addition to a garden and will attract butterflies. This plant is generally given support, typically provided with a large trellis or something else for it to climb. It is covered in blossoms during late spring and summer and really makes quite a colorful display.
The adult Gulf Fritillary and other local butterflies have been sighted feeding on its red blossoms. Locally, Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) prefer red-blooming Bougainvillea over the yellow-blooming cultivars. We have them growing side-by-side.
We were not able to verify the registration of this name, so list this plant in the "selling name" category.
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Bougainvillea is a woody, climbing vine that produces thorns and usually blooms in summer. It grows well in Zone 9 and Zone 10. Normally Bougainvillea are treated as a vine and given support, even if that support is a nearby bush. Two novel treatments are worth a try: grow in a container as a topiary specimen, or, grow as a ground cover. As a container plant it can be positioned on a patio. If trimmed aggressively during the growing season it will both maintain a compact shape and be covered with a riot of blossoms in whatever shade you have selected. As a ground cover it may die back in a frost; perhaps plant in a protected spot or grow in a semi-tropical zone.
Bougainvillea cultivars abound as do the assortment of flower colors. Select a plant when in bloom if you are looking for a specific shade, as cultivar names are numerous and might even be confusing, as some of the names have not been registered. Unregistered plants may produce unreliable blooms.
This is what we know:
Bougainvillea 'James Walker' is slightly pinker than Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst', and Bougainvillea spectabilis is a bit bluer than either of those. (That said, Bougainvillea spectabilis may come in a variety of colors - reddish-magenta to a blueish-magenta.) Bougainvillea 'Monio' is redder than the others. Bougainvillea buttiana comes in several shades including yellow.
Container plants that attract adult butterflies - vine
This plant is one of 25 vines suitable to grow in a container that can attract adult butterflies.
They can be found in large, medium-large and tiny heights - from less than a foot long to over 10 feet tall.
None are drought tolerant, as most of prefer moderate or regular watering. 7 are deciduous,19 are evergreen. Some can grow in Zones 3 and Zone 4, while the others grow in Zones 5-11. 23 can be grown in Zone 9.
Most vines are prostrate, so we set their height to "0" while registering the plant's potential length in the width category.
