Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Thursday - December 18, 2008

From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Identification of non-native bougainvillea
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

What is the Scientific Name of the Central Texas Ornamental that people call Bogan Vilias. I think that is the correct spelling. The Plant is Perenial. Their flowers are terminal, the petals are in threes, the corallas are in threes, and each branch can produce a different color flower, some red, some pink, some orange. They also have claws, or thorns on the branches similar to the Catclaw Family. The leaves are palm-like and are alternate. I am spooked! Can you help me?

ANSWER:

The bougainvillea, scientific name: Bougainvillea spp., far from being a Central Texas ornamental (although widely grown as such) is actually a native of South America from Brazil to Peru, and therefore falls outside the expertise of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. However, we found several websites that can answer your questions and also pictures so you can see that it is the plant you described.

Texas A&M Education Growing Bougainvilleas

Floridata Bougainvillea spp.