Bougainvillea arborea 'Dwarf' (Dwarf Bonsai Bougainvillea)

A dwarf form of thornless Bougainvillea with extremely slow growth rate. These showy evergreen dwarf beauties have numerous bright colorful bracts growing in an upright habit. This plant flowers in a small as a 4" pot and is great for landscapes and patio containers. It has a shape of natural bonsai, and leaves are smaller. Bright flowers are born in dense clusters. Three to four years old plants can stay only 3 ft tall and look like natural bonsai trees. They stay compact, perfectly round and dense shape, don't require pruning, making a must-have for any garden, especially for the small spaces in your yard.

A new line of these hybrids is called Sunvillea bougainvillea. They come in three different colors - bright rose (variety Pixie that has already become extremely popular), creamy-yellow and creamy-pink.

These plants can be grown in USDA Zones 9 to 11 and require full sun and moderate watering. Frosty winter climates will damage it, so it's necessary to protect it when night time temperatures drop to the low 30s Fahrenheit or below. In cold-weather climates, it must be grown in a pot and brought indoors to withstand strong cold weather. The plant should also be brought indoors during the winter months to protect it from the cold. Inside, it should be placed near a sunny window to ensure good light levels and placed in a well-ventilated room. It is best to mist the foliage regularly and move it outdoors during the warm months to allow it to get the sun and fresh air it loves so much. Providing adequate light, well-drained soil, and moderate amounts of water is ideal for a healthy growing bougainvillea. Feed it with an organic fertilizer every three weeks during the growing season. With its vibrant pink or yellow/creamy-pink flowers, these bonsai-like beauties can turn even the dullest areas into a stunning landscape.