Bougainvillea — 12 species

Bougainvillea is a vigorous, thorny, woody vine native to South America, grown across tropical and subtropical gardens for its vivid papery bracts in shades of magenta, purple, orange, and gold — with species ranging from the sprawling Peruvian bougainvillea to compact cultivars like Golden Glow. It demands full sun and surprisingly infrequent water once established, tolerating dry spells well; overwatering is a common mistake. Toxicity varies across the genus: the sap is a known skin and gastrointestinal irritant and ASPCA coverage is incomplete for several species, so check each species before buying and keep pets away from thorns and sap.