Bougainvillea as big as houses in SA? (San Antonio, Anton: new house, fence)

[Aiphanes]

Ok have you people seen any bougainvillea growning in San Antonio as big as houses? I have seen a few...and it is amazing that bougainvillea can survive in SA to grow as big as a house...it usually does not do this but down on the coast in Corpus or down in the Lower Rio Grande Valley...but it is now happenning in San Antonio.

If you got pictures post.

[01Snake]

Never seen them in SA.

[Aiphanes]

Originally Posted by 01Snake

Never seen them in SA.

How long you been in SA because bougainvillea is all over this city...I will have to take some pictures of the big house size ones and show you.

[CelesteDF]

My new house has bougainvillea growing on the front of it, but it's neatly trimmed in a little climbing bush. I highly doubt that anyone in their right mind would allow their bougainvillea to grow as big as the house, though. It's not hard to trim, or you can let it vine up a wall/fence, etc. Where have you seen the monster bougainvillea?

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

It grows well here in Florida, I have been thinking of putting it so it will grow over my house and in the backyard. It has nice LONG thorns on it so it would make a nice nasty surprise if you tried to climb a fence it was on.

I would LOVE to see your pictures for ideas of what to do with it.

I have a friend who has one growing beside her house, she is wanting to train it to grow up and over her house. I just hope it doesn't do damage to her roof.

[Paka]

I have seen them huge here in SA, but not as big as in Hawaii. On the street we drove daily to get to our house, there were 3 homes that had solid walls of multi color bougainvillea that had to be at least 45 ft wide and 20 feet over and down (these homes were sat up with a retaining wall at the front of the property). So beautiful. These plants and rosemary seem to like the retaining wall type of locations...wonder if it is the drainage from the soil above that helps them thrive so much? I do know that they need good drainage, but have only been successful with them here in hanging baskets.

[sapphire]

I've killed at least 3 bogies in the last 2 years. I'm done. My in-laws have a house on the South side and they had one growing, thriving, on their chain-link fence. The neighbor wanted it gone, so they transplanted it to the side of the house where it has continued thriving, and it nearly runs the length of the house. It's absolutely gorgeous.

I'm a failure with a 10" pot, without transplanting, and they've moved a 20' plant and gotten fabulous results. I wish I knew why I kill them.

[mrstxcop]

dh and i went to donate some clothes at the battered women's shelter a few months back and on the way back home we were driving thru what i think was Monte Vista and there was a house that had a HUGE bogie --- actually it was the size of the house --- i made dh turn around so i could see it again --- it was soooo pretty with hot pink flowers ---

[hadleyzoo]

I've got one that I can't kill no matter what I do.

I have cut it back 4 times already this year and it grows like crazy. I didn't realize it would get this big...am considering transplanting it. Ooohh...maybe then I'll kill it.

[Paka]

I think the EASIEST way to kill one is to overwater...they like the soil to dry out between watering for sure!