Barbara Karst Bougainvillea Plant Size: Get the Right Size for You

With its vibrant pinkish-purple bracts and lush green foliage, Barbara Karst bougainvillea makes a gorgeous addition to gardens and landscapes This variety is a vigorous grower that can reach up to 20 feet in height and 24 feet across Selecting the right size Barbara Karst bougainvillea for your needs is key to enjoying its beauty without constant pruning and maintenance.

Mature Size of Barbara Karst Bougainvillea

At maturity, Barbara Karst bougainvillea will become a sprawling shrub or vine reaching up to 20 feet tall and 24 feet wide. It features woody stems covered in pointed, heart-shaped leaves up to 6 inches long. From spring to fall, colorful bracts in shades of fuchsia, purple and pink completely envelop the tiny white flowers.

Given room to spread a mature specimen will have long arching canes that can be trained as a climbing vine on arbors trellises and fences. Alternatively, it can be pruned into a large, rounded shrub.

Growth Rate

Barbara Karst bougainvillea is a fast grower when planted in ideal conditions. It can gain several feet in height and width each year. Expect at least 12-24 inches of vigorous new growth annually.

With ample warmth, sun and well-drained soil, this variety thrives in USDA Zones 9-11. It can be grown as an annual or conservatory plant in colder zones.

Choosing the Right Size Plant

When selecting a Barbara Karst bougainvillea for your landscape opting for a smaller, younger plant allows you to shape and train growth over time. Mature plants can be challenging to reduce in size.

Start Small

• 4 inch pot – Grows 12-18 inches tall in first year. Good for planting in combinations or edging.

• 1 gallon pot – Reaches 2-4 feet tall in first year. Quickly fills space in garden beds.

• 5 gallon pot – Gains 4-6 feet in a single season. Rapid growth to cover fences or arbors.

Buy Mature for Instant Impact

• 7 gallon pot – A 5-6 foot shrub making a bold statement right away. Requires prompt pruning.

• 15 gallon pot – Expensive but establishes an 8-10 foot vine or shrub immediately. Needs heavy pruning.

• 24 inch box – Huge 12-15 foot vine that demands drastic pruning to control size. High cost.

Size Control Through Pruning

To restrict the ultimate dimensions of Barbara Karst bougainvillea, timely pruning is essential:

• Prune lightly in the first year to shape new growth.

• In year 2-3, cut vigorous shoots back by one-third to one-half after flowering.

• To maintain size, prune established plants immediately after the spring bloom period.

• Remove old growth annually to stimulate new blooming wood.

• Train wayward shoots to trellises, fences and supports for better structure.

Appropriate Sizes for Common Uses

Selecting the right plant size for your needs ensures success:

Container Growing

• 1-2 gallon pots: Optimal for pots and planters. Prune to match container size.

• 5 gallon: Grows well in large pots. Requires frequent pruning.

• 7+ gallon: Too big for containers. Growth quickly exceeds pot size.

Garden Beds and Borders

• 1 gallon: Quickly fills space as low mounding shrub or vine.

• 5 gallon: Dramatic accent plant. Needs early pruning.

• 7+ gallon: Overwhelms most garden settings. Demands heavy pruning.

Trellises and Fences

• 1 gallon: Good for training up smaller structures.

• 5 gallon: Quickly covers large trellises and fences.

• 7+ gallon: Only use on very sturdy structures. Heavy pruning needed.

Arbors and Pergolas

• 5 gallon: Grows well but prune to control size.

• 7+ gallon: Provides instant coverage but requires drastic pruning.

• Mature vines: Engulf arbors and pergolas. Impractical for home landscapes.

Hedges and Screens

• 1-2 gallon: Plants spaced 2 feet apart create bushy hedge with pruning.

• 5 gallon: Space 3 feet apart for dense, vigorous hedge. Requires frequent shearing.

• 7+ gallon: Too large for hedges. Growth habit unruly.

Caring for Your Bougainvillea

To keep your Barbara Karst bougainvillea looking its best while restricting size:

• Provide full sun exposure and well-drained soil.

• Water regularly until established, then reduce frequency.

• Fertilize in spring and summer to fuel growth.

• Prune vigorously immediately after flowering.

• Train shoots along supports and remove wayward growth.

• In colder zones, grow in containers that can be moved indoors.

By selecting the optimal size plant for your needs and providing proper care, you’ll get fabulous results from Barbara Karst bougainvillea over many years of growth and flowering. With its vibrant colors and vigorous growth habit, this plant delivers fabulous tropical appeal to gardens and landscapes.