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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.

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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.

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Sunday - April 04, 2010

From: Las Vegas, NV
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Non-native bougainvillea annual or perennial in Las Vegas?
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Are bouganvilleas annual or perianneal plants? What do you do w/them in the winter time. We live in Las Vegas NV

ANSWER:

The bougainvillea, a native to coastal Brazil, falls out of our range of expertise at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. We only deal with and recommend plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown. From this website Plant-care.com Bougainvillea Care, you will learn that they will die if subjected to more than a light freeze, and do not do well inside. Las Vegas is in USDA Hardiness Zones 5b to 6a, which means your plants outdoor would be subjected to average annual minimum temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees F. 

 

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