New River Purple Bougainvillea Shrub

Bold, Brilliant Purple Blooms All Season Long

Who Else Wants Colorful Plants All Year?
Imagine rich purple color brightening your landscape—even in winter. The New River Purple Bougainvillea Shrub blooms repeatedly throughout the year in warm climates, delivering vibrant pops of color when you least expect them. And when it’s not in full bloom, you’ll still enjoy its dense, lush green foliage. While bougainvilleas may briefly drop leaves during cooler weather, they’re often considered evergreen in mild climates.

Did You Know the Color Isn’t from the Flowers?
Those vivid violet “blooms” aren’t flowers at all. The intense color comes from triangular purple bracts that surround clusters of tiny, creamy white, star-shaped flowers. This eye-catching foliage is what gives New River its bold, show-stopping appeal.

Coastal Gardeners, Take Note
Also known as the Palm Beach Purple Bougainvillea, New River thrives in sandy soils and tolerates salt with ease. It’s an excellent choice for coastal landscapes, where its deep purple color creates stunning contrast against bright sand and seaside surroundings.

A Versatile Shrub with Endless Possibilities
Grown as a shrub, New River Purple Bougainvillea is perfect for hedges, borders, and foundation plantings. Keep it neatly trimmed for a structured look, or let it grow more freely for a lush, tropical feel. It can also be grown in containers and shaped for patios, entryways, or even trained into a compact tree form.

One of the Easiest Ornamentals You’ll Ever Grow
All this shrub asks for is full sun and occasional deep watering. Drought tolerant once established and highly adaptable, it’s a low-maintenance way to add dramatic color to almost any sunny space.

Wildlife Will Love It, Too
Butterflies and birds are drawn to its vivid color and nectar-rich blooms, while the dense foliage offers shelter and nesting opportunities.

Bring bold color and tropical charm to your landscape with the New River Purple Bougainvillea Shrub—a vibrant, reliable standout you’ll enjoy season after season.

Planting & Care

The New River Purple Bougainvillea Shrub (Bougainvillea ‘New River’) is a striking ornamental known for its rich, deep purple blooms and dense, mounding habit. Grown as a shrub, it creates a bold hedge, border, or standalone accent that adds vibrant color to landscapes, driveways, and property lines. It performs best when planted outdoors in USDA Zones 9–11, but can also be grown in containers and overwintered indoors in cooler regions (Zones 4–11).

This sun-loving, fast-growing shrub is drought tolerant once established and typically matures to 15–25 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide if left unpruned, though it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular trimming. New River Purple Bougainvillea is also well-suited for coastal areas thanks to its salt tolerance.

Planting Directions (In Ground)

Plant in a full sun location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose a well-draining site, as bougainvillea does not tolerate standing water. When planting multiple shrubs as a hedge, space them 18–20 inches apart.

1. Dig a hole 2–3 times wider than the root ball and just as deep.

2. Bougainvillea prefers slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5–6.0.

3. Gently remove the shrub from its container and loosen the roots.

4. Position the plant and backfill with a mix of native soil and garden soil, tamping lightly to remove air pockets.

5. Water thoroughly and apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

Tip: Limestone raises soil pH, while sulfur helps lower it if needed.

Planting Directions (Container)

Choose a container 1–2 sizes larger than the nursery pot with drainage holes. Use a quality potting mix within the preferred pH range. Position the shrub so there’s at least one inch of space below the rim, backfill, firm the soil gently, and water well. Place the container in full sun.

Watering

Water as needed, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid oversaturating, as excess moisture can encourage leaf growth at the expense of blooms. For container plants, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.

Pruning

Prune in late fall or early winter to maintain shape and control size. Light trimming encourages branching and keeps shrubs full and tidy. Remove dead or damaged branches as needed. Always use clean, sterilized pruning tools.

Fertilizing

Feed monthly during the blooming season with a fertilizer formulated for flowering plants, such as a 6-8-10 blend. Stop fertilizing at the end of summer. Container-grown shrubs benefit from a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied every two weeks at half strength.