Bougainvillea Colors: Complete Color Chart With Variety Names

Bougainvillea comes in vivid bract colors including magenta, red, pink, purple, lavender, orange, apricot, salmon, yellow, gold, white, and bicolor combinations. The most familiar bougainvillea colors are hot pink, magenta, purple, and red, but named varieties also include softer white, apricot, yellow, pale lavender, and variegated foliage types.

The important detail is that bougainvillea color usually comes from the papery bracts, not the true flowers. The true flowers are small and usually white or cream, while the colorful bracts create the dramatic display gardeners want.

This guide groups bougainvillea colors by variety name so you can compare red, pink, purple, orange, yellow, white, and bicolor options before choosing a plant. For the broader plant-type guide, start with HerbVity’s types of bougainvillea article.

Quick Answer: What Colors Do Bougainvillea Come In?

Bougainvillea commonly comes in magenta, red, pink, purple, lavender, orange, apricot, salmon, yellow, gold, white, and pink-white bicolor forms. Some varieties also have variegated foliage, which can make the plant look even brighter when it is not in full bloom.

True blue bougainvillea is not a standard natural bract color. Plants sold as “blue” are usually purple, lavender, edited photos, dyed displays, or mislabeled listings. If you want the coolest-toned bougainvillea, look for purple or lavender varieties instead.

Mixed bougainvillea colors growing over a sunlit garden wall.

Bougainvillea Colors at a Glance

Color family	Example variety names	Best garden use	What to know before buying
Red and magenta	Barbara Karst, Double Red, Juanita Hatten, Scarlet O’Hara, San Diego Red, Raspberry Ice	Bold walls, fences, tropical borders, high-impact containers	Often the easiest color family to find, but names may vary by nursery and region.
Pink and rose	Double Pink, Bois-de-Rose, Jane Snook, Miami Pink, Pink Pixie, Rosa Catalina, Surprise	Romantic patios, cottage-style containers, softer tropical gardens	Pink may shift warmer or cooler depending on light, age, and cultivar.
Purple and lavender	Elizabeth Angus, Royal Purple, Purple Robe, Vera Deep Purple, Oo-La-La, John Lattin, Sweet Dream	Mediterranean-style gardens, dramatic trellises, cool-toned color palettes	Lavender, violet, mauve, and purple names are often used loosely.
Orange, apricot, and salmon	Afterglow, Sundown, Sundown Orange, Orange Fiesta, Miss Manila, Mrs. McClean, Tropical Bouquet	Warm-color borders, desert-style gardens, sunny courtyard walls	Many orange varieties age toward pink, salmon, apricot, or dusty rose tones.
Yellow and gold	California Gold, Golden Glow, Lady Mary Baring, Yellow Glory, Hawaiian Yellow	Bright patios, tropical color contrast, warm-climate focal points	Yellow can appear gold, cream, apricot, or pinkish-gold depending on maturity and light.
White and bicolor	Summer Snow, Jamaica White, Golden Summers, Vickie, Snow White, Vera White, Surprise	Weddings, formal containers, moon gardens, clean modern landscapes	White bracts may blush pink, cream, or age tan depending on variety and conditions.

Important Note: Bougainvillea Color Comes From Bracts

Close-up of colorful bougainvillea bracts surrounding tiny white flowers. — Bougainvillea color comes mostly from papery bracts, not the tiny true flowers.

When people talk about bougainvillea flower colors, they usually mean bract colors. Bracts are modified leaves that surround the small true flowers. In bougainvillea, the bracts are the colorful, papery parts that make the plant look covered in flowers.

This matters because a variety name may describe bract color rather than flower color. For example, a “red” or “purple” bougainvillea usually still has tiny white or cream flowers tucked inside the bright bracts.

For gardeners, that distinction helps with plant identification. If you are comparing bougainvillea colors at a nursery, look at the papery bracts, the true flowers, leaf color, growth habit, and whether the plant is compact, vining, thorny, or variegated.

Complete Bougainvillea Color Chart With Variety Names

Bougainvillea bracts arranged by color from white and yellow to orange, pink, red, and purple. — Bougainvillea varieties are usually grouped by bract color rather than true flower color.

Use this chart as a practical starting point. Bougainvillea names can vary by nursery, region, synonym, and local trade name, so always compare the plant tag with the actual bract color before buying.

Variety name	Also sold as / synonyms	Main bract color	Useful notes
Afterglow	None listed	Yellow-orange	Heavy bloomer; older bracts may turn dusty rose.
Barbara Karst	Sometimes listed as Bougainvillea × buttiana ‘Barbara Karst’	Bright red to magenta-red	Popular, vigorous, reliable, and often used for high-impact color.
Bois-de-Rose	None listed	Dusty pink	Vigorous grower with soft rose-toned bracts.
California Gold	Sometimes confused with Golden Glow	Gold to yellow	Vigorous yellow/gold variety; useful for warm-color gardens.
Crimson Jewel	None listed	Crimson, pink, and orange tones	Dwarf selection that can work well in containers and as ground cover.
Double Pink	None listed	Bright pink	Double bracts create a fuller, ruffled look.
Double Red	None listed	Deep red	Double bracts over green foliage; good for bold color.
Dr. David Barry	Singapore Pink, Singapore Beauty	Lavender-pink	Rounded shrubby habit; useful for containers.
Elizabeth Angus	None listed	Purple	Vigorous purple selection with large bracts.
Golden Glow	Millarii, Gold Queen, Hawaiian Gold	Bright gold to pinkish-gold	Warm gold bracts; color may look richer or softer by environment.
Golden Summers	Miss Oneuse	White bracts with variegated foliage	Repeat bloomer with yellow-gold and green foliage variegation.
Helen Johnson	Temple Fire	Reddish-purple, opening slightly coppery	Dwarf, compact, bushy type; useful for hanging baskets and ground cover.
Jamaica White	Apple Blossom, Audrey Grey	White with pink flush	Pretty white-pink option; may be shy flowering compared with stronger bloomers.
Jane Snook	Durban, President	Pink	Compact, dense, somewhat pendulous habit.
John Lattin	None listed	Iridescent pale lavender	Erect, leggy grower with pale lavender bracts.
Juanita Hatten	None listed	Bright red to dark pink	Branching habit; good for hanging baskets.
Killie Campbell	None listed	Copper, red, and magenta	Large-growing and pendulous with ruffled bracts.
Lady Hudson	Princess Margaret Rose	Pale pink	Soft pink variety with long canes.
Lateritia	Dar-es-Salaam	Brick-red	Dense, shrubby, slower-growing option.
Lady Mary Baring	Yellow Glory, Hawaiian Yellow	Bright yellow	Erect, open growth with rounded yellow bracts.
Meriol Fitzpatrick	Dream	Pale shimmering lavender	Bushy habit with pale lavender bracts.
Miami Pink	None listed	Dark pink	Landscape-friendly dark pink selection.
Miss Manila	Tango	Golden-orange, apricot, and light pink	Cascading habit with warm multicolor bracts.
Mrs. Butt	Dame Clara Butt, Crimson Lake	Red to peach	Repeat bloomer with loose upright growth.
Mrs. McClean	Hawaiian Orange, Orange Glory	Bright orange	Erect orange selection with cream flowers.
Oo-La-La	Poultoni	Purple, opening copper-red then magenta-red	Compact grower with few small thorns; bracts may develop a bluish cast.
Orange Fiesta	None listed	Pumpkin orange with pink and salmon hints	Warm orange variety with luminous bracts.
Pink Pixie	Hawaiian Torch, Smartipants	Pink to magenta-red	True miniature; useful for small pots.
Raspberry Ice	Hawaii, Tropical Rainbow	Raspberry red to pink	Compact with variegated foliage; RHS describes pink bracts around small white flowers.
Rosa Catalina	None listed	Rosy pink	Dense, vigorous, rose-pink selection.
Royal Purple	None listed	Dark purple	Useful purple option, especially where other older purple cultivars struggle.
Scarlet O’Hara	San Diego Red, Hawaiian Scarlet	Orange to dark red	Vigorous upright grower with very large bracts.
Summer Snow	None listed	White	Large white bracts; often suited to weddings and hanging baskets.
Sundown	Often associated with Sundown Orange	Apricot to orange	Vigorous warm-toned bloomer.
Surprise	Mary Palmer	Pink and white	Large-growing bicolor with mixed pink-white bracts.
Sweet Dream	None listed	Pale lavender	Gold-leaved and noted as thornless in the CTAHR cultivar list.
Texas Dawn	Purple King, Robyn’s Glory	Light purple-pink	Open grower with rounded medium bracts.
Tropical Bouquet	None listed	Orange aging quickly to pink	Compact and bushy with color-shifting warm bracts.
Vickie	Vicky, Vicki, Thimma	Pink and white	Variegated foliage with gold or creamy yellow in the leaf center.
Vera Deep Purple	Reboug 327	Deep purple	Compact purple option often grown in containers or protected sites.
Snow White	Often listed as Bougainvillea glabra ‘Snow White’	White	White-bracted option; confirm local plant tag because white cultivar names vary.
Vera White	None listed	White	White cultivar name found in RHS records, though name status may vary by listing.
Alexandra	Bougainvillea glabra ‘Alexandra’	Pink-purple	Showy pink-purple bracts around tiny white flowers.
Purple Robe	None listed	Purple	Large purple bracts around small white flowers.

Red and Magenta Bougainvillea Varieties

Red and magenta bougainvilleas are the classic high-impact choices for sunny walls, fences, entryways, and tropical-looking hedges. They read as bold, hot, and dramatic from a distance.

Good red or magenta variety names to compare include Barbara Karst, Double Red, Lateritia, Juanita Hatten, Scarlet O’Hara, San Diego Red, Hawaiian Scarlet, Raspberry Ice, and Killie Campbell. Be aware that many “red” bougainvilleas look closer to magenta, fuchsia, or hot pink in strong light.

Choose this color family when you want maximum visibility. For a softer garden, red and magenta bougainvilleas can overpower pale flowers, so use them as the main focal point rather than a background plant.

Pink and Rose Bougainvillea Varieties

Pink bougainvilleas are softer than the hot magenta and red types, but they still bring strong tropical color. They work well in patios, romantic garden spaces, containers, poolside plantings, and cottage-style warm-climate gardens.

Good pink and rose names to look for include Double Pink, Bois-de-Rose, Jane Snook, Miami Pink, Pink Pixie, Rosa Catalina, Lady Hudson, Dr. David Barry, and Surprise. If space is limited, Pink Pixie is especially worth comparing because it is a miniature type.

Pink can overlap with lavender, rose, magenta, and salmon. When buying, choose the actual plant in color if possible instead of relying only on a catalog photo.

Purple and Lavender Bougainvillea Varieties

Purple and lavender bougainvilleas are excellent for cooler color palettes. They pair well with silver foliage, white flowers, terracotta pots, limestone walls, and Mediterranean-style planting schemes.

Names to compare include Elizabeth Angus, Royal Purple, Purple Robe, Vera Deep Purple, Oo-La-La, John Lattin, Meriol Fitzpatrick, Sweet Dream, Texas Dawn, and Alexandra. Expect some overlap between purple, lavender, mauve, violet, and pink-purple descriptions.

If you are trying to avoid hot pink, inspect the bracts in person. Some “purple” bougainvilleas can look pink-purple in bright sun or as bracts age.

Orange, Apricot, and Salmon Bougainvillea Varieties

Orange bougainvilleas bring a warmer, sunset-like look. They are especially useful in desert-style landscapes, warm courtyard gardens, stucco walls, and tropical color combinations with yellow, coral, and magenta.

Good orange and apricot names include Afterglow, Sundown, Sundown Orange, Orange Fiesta, Miss Manila, Tango, Mrs. McClean, Hawaiian Orange, Orange Glory, Tropical Bouquet, and Crimson Jewel.

Orange bougainvilleas often shift color as bracts mature. A plant may open coppery or orange, then move toward salmon, pink, apricot, or dusty rose. That change is usually normal and can be part of the appeal.

Yellow and Gold Bougainvillea Varieties

Yellow and gold bougainvilleas can be harder to find than magenta or purple types, but they are worth looking for if you want a bright, sunny plant without the intensity of hot pink.

Key names include California Gold, Golden Glow, Gold Queen, Hawaiian Gold, Lady Mary Baring, Yellow Glory, Hawaiian Yellow, and Afterglow. Some yellow varieties look gold, butter-yellow, apricot, or pinkish-gold depending on maturity and growing conditions.

Yellow and gold bracts show best in strong light. If the plant is kept in too much shade, flowering can be weaker and the bract color may look duller.

White and Bicolor Bougainvillea Varieties

White bougainvilleas are useful when you want the bougainvillea texture without the intensity of magenta, red, or orange. They can look elegant on a trellis, in large containers, near patios, or in wedding-style garden spaces.

White and bicolor names to compare include Summer Snow, Jamaica White, Apple Blossom, Audrey Grey, Golden Summers, Snow White, Vera White, Vickie, Vicky, and Surprise. Some are pure white, while others blush pink, mix pink and white, or combine pale bracts with variegated foliage.

White bougainvillea can show browning or aging more visibly than saturated colors, so choose a healthy plant, provide bright light, and prune after bloom cycles as needed.

Is There a Blue Bougainvillea?

True blue bougainvillea is not a normal bougainvillea bract color. Listings that show electric blue or sky-blue bougainvillea should be treated with caution. They may be edited images, dyed bracts, artificial flowers, mislabeled purple cultivars, or unreliable seed listings.

For the coolest natural look, choose lavender, mauve, or purple bougainvillea instead. Good options to compare include Vera Deep Purple, Royal Purple, Purple Robe, John Lattin, Sweet Dream, and Meriol Fitzpatrick.

Why Bougainvillea Colors Can Look Different Over Time

Bougainvillea color is not always perfectly stable. Bracts can change color as they emerge, mature, age, dry, or fade. A variety that is sold as orange may become salmon-pink, while a gold variety may look yellow in one setting and apricot in another.

Color can also vary because of sunlight, temperature, plant stress, watering habits, fertilizer, age of the bracts, camera exposure, and nursery naming. That does not necessarily mean the plant is mislabeled.

Reason color looks different	What you may notice	What to do
Young bracts	New bracts may open coppery, pale, greenish, orange, or softer than expected.	Wait for the bracts to mature before deciding the plant is mislabeled.
Aging bracts	Older bracts fade, dry, or become papery, sometimes shifting toward tan, rose, or cream.	Prune or deadhead for appearance after a bloom cycle if needed.
Low light	Fewer bracts, weaker bloom, duller color, or dropped bracts.	Move container plants to stronger light or choose a sunnier planting site.
Nursery synonym	The same variety may be sold under multiple names.	Compare the tag, bract color, foliage, and growth habit.
Photo and screen differences	Online photos may look more saturated than the real plant.	Buy in bloom when possible, especially for subtle colors like apricot, lavender, and white.

How to Choose a Bougainvillea Color for Your Garden

The best bougainvillea color depends on the effect you want, the space you have, and whether you need a compact plant or a vigorous climber. Color is only one part of the decision.

Garden goal	Best color family	Variety names to compare	Why it works
Maximum tropical impact	Red, magenta, purple	Barbara Karst, Juanita Hatten, Royal Purple, Elizabeth Angus	These colors are bold and visible from a distance.
Soft romantic patio	Pink, rose, lavender	Double Pink, Rosa Catalina, Lady Hudson, John Lattin	These colors feel warmer and less harsh than bright red or magenta.
Warm desert or Mediterranean look	Orange, apricot, yellow	Afterglow, Sundown, Orange Fiesta, California Gold	Warm bracts pair well with stucco, stone, terracotta, and dry gardens.
Clean formal container	White or white-pink	Summer Snow, Jamaica White, Snow White, Surprise	White and bicolor bracts feel elegant and less visually loud.
Small pot or hanging basket	Compact pink, red, or dwarf types	Pink Pixie, Helen Johnson, Crimson Jewel, Dr. David Barry	Compact types are easier to maintain in limited space.
Foliage interest when not in bloom	Variegated foliage types	Raspberry Ice, Golden Summers, Vickie	Variegated leaves keep the plant ornamental between bloom cycles.

For care planning, remember that bougainvillea needs strong sun and sharp drainage to bloom well. If you are choosing a color for a container, also consider mature size, thorniness, and how easily the plant can be moved or protected from cold.

Different bougainvillea colors growing on a sunny garden fence. — Choose bougainvillea color by space, plant size, sun exposure, and the mood you want in the garden.

Bougainvillea Color and Safety Notes

Bougainvillea color is beautiful, but the plant can be difficult in the wrong spot. Many cultivars have sharp thorns, and vigorous types can become large, tangled, and hard to prune without gloves.

Use caution near walkways. Thorny bougainvillea should not spill into paths, gates, driveways, or children’s play areas.
Wear protective clothing when pruning. Heavy gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and eye protection are sensible when handling thorny plants.
Do not overwater for more color. Bougainvillea usually blooms better with bright light, sharp drainage, and slightly drier soil between waterings.
Do not overfertilize with nitrogen. Too much leafy growth can reduce bloom performance.
Buy by plant habit, not color alone. A vigorous vine and a compact pot variety can have similar colors but behave very differently.

For more safety detail, see HerbVity’s is bougainvillea poisonous? guide. For plant care, see bougainvillea care and how to grow bougainvillea.

Potted bougainvillea in bloom beside gloves and pruning shears. — Bougainvillea needs sun, sharp drainage, and careful handling because many cultivars have thorns.

Related HerbVity Guides

Sources and Further Reading

FAQs About Bougainvillea Colors

What colors do bougainvillea come in?

Bougainvillea bracts commonly come in magenta, red, pink, purple, lavender, orange, apricot, salmon, yellow, gold, white, and bicolor combinations. The true flowers are usually small and white or cream.

Are bougainvillea colors flowers or bracts?

The colorful parts of bougainvillea are usually bracts, which are modified leaves. The true flowers are much smaller and are usually white or cream inside the bracts.

What is the most common bougainvillea color?

Magenta, hot pink, purple, and red are among the most common bougainvillea colors in landscapes and nurseries. Yellow, white, apricot, and bicolor varieties are also available but may be less common in some regions.

Is there a blue bougainvillea?

True blue bougainvillea is not a normal natural bract color. Plants sold as blue are usually purple, lavender, edited photos, dyed displays, or mislabeled listings.

Which bougainvillea varieties are red or magenta?

Red and magenta bougainvillea varieties include Barbara Karst, Double Red, Lateritia, Juanita Hatten, Scarlet O’Hara, San Diego Red, Hawaiian Scarlet, Raspberry Ice, and Killie Campbell.

Which bougainvillea varieties are yellow or orange?

Yellow and orange bougainvillea varieties include California Gold, Golden Glow, Lady Mary Baring, Yellow Glory, Hawaiian Yellow, Afterglow, Sundown, Orange Fiesta, Miss Manila, Mrs. McClean, and Tropical Bouquet.

Which bougainvillea varieties are white?

White and white-bicolor bougainvillea varieties include Summer Snow, Jamaica White, Apple Blossom, Audrey Grey, Golden Summers, Snow White, Vera White, Vickie, and Surprise. Some white types may blush pink or cream as they age.

Do bougainvillea colors change?

Yes. Bougainvillea bracts can change as they mature, age, dry, or fade. Sunlight, temperature, watering, fertilizer, cultivar, and bloom stage can all affect how intense or accurate the color looks.