Variety Profile
Bougainvillea 'Adarna' (Shikendari)
A breathtaking, highly sought-after multicolored cultivar featuring spectacular splashed and mottled bracts. Known across collector circles in Asia with origins tied to both Indonesia and China, this versatile variety...
Cultivar Notes
Bougainvillea 'Adarna' (Shikendari)
A breathtaking, highly sought-after multicolored cultivar featuring spectacular splashed and mottled bracts. Known across collector circles in Asia with origins tied to both Indonesia and China, this versatile variety exhibits two distinct color phases—one with a warm yellow base and another boasting deep orange tones. Highly dynamic, its blooms occasionally shift to solid yellow, show partial reversion, or hold their intense variegation. Uniquely for a premium hybrid, it occasionally produces viable seeds that sprout successfully. This cultivar also features highly sought-after Moonlight and variegated foliage versions, adding year-round ornamental value even when not in bloom. A highly prolific, heavy repeat bloomer, Adarna is exceptionally vigorous and serves as an excellent choice for ornamental fencing, root gardens, and stunning container specimens under direct Indian sun.
Growth habit: Vigorous vine / Climber · Color profile: multicolored (yellow, orange, and deep pink-magenta splash) · Climate fit: Hot, humid, full direct sunlight
Field checks
- Track sunlight duration before changing feed or watering.
- Use gradual pruning and monitor new shoot maturity.
- Match container volume to vigor and wind exposure.
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Built for practical botanical decisions
Bloom Predictor
Estimate bloom readiness from sunlight, pruning timing, stress cycle, and fertilizer balance.
Sunlight Calculator
Score a planting location for bougainvillea based on direct sun, shade timing, and reflected heat.
Pot Size Calculator
Choose a pot size that balances roots, drainage, top weight, and flowering discipline.
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Built for practical botanical decisions
Bougainvillea Kayata
The Kayat Bougainvillea is a beautiful and vigorous cultivar belonging to the Glabra group, admired for its soft pink bracts, repeat blooming habit, and elegant ornamental appearance. Although widely known in several...
Bougainvillea 'Maharani'
A rare, non-seeding repeat bloomer featuring sunset-like dual-color orange and cream bracts. Released from China in late 2018 as a highly stable genetic mutation of the 'Miss Manila' lineage, this premium cultivar...
Field Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should bougainvillea be watered?
Water deeply, then wait until the top several centimeters of the mix are dry. Mature bougainvillea usually blooms better with a clear wet-dry rhythm than with constant moisture.
Why is my bougainvillea growing leaves but not flowers?
The usual causes are low sunlight, too much nitrogen, overwatering, recent hard pruning, or a container that is too large for the root system.
Can bougainvillea grow in pots?
Yes. Use a stable pot with drainage, a gritty mix, strong sun, and careful pruning to keep the canopy balanced with the root volume.
Is bougainvillea drought tolerant?
Established plants are drought tolerant, but young plants and container specimens still need consistent observation during hot weather.
Why are the colorful bracts dropping off before they fully open?
Bud drop is usually caused by sudden environmental stress. Moving a potted plant to a different location, a sudden drop in temperature, or an abrupt change in watering (either letting it get bone dry or leaving it waterlogged) can shock the plant into dropping its blooms.
Why are my bougainvillea leaves turning yellow but the veins are staying green?
This is called chlorosis, which typically indicates an iron or magnesium deficiency. It often happens because poor drainage or highly alkaline soil prevents the roots from absorbing existing nutrients. Applying a micronutrient foliar spray or adding iron chelate to the soil can help correct this.
My plant is sending out incredibly long, thorny branches with no flowers. What should I do?
These are called 'water sprouts' or vegetative runners. They frequently appear when the plant is receiving too much nitrogen fertilizer, excessive water, or inadequate sunlight. Prune these long shoots back to the main canopy to encourage branching, and switch to a high-potassium, low-nitrogen fertilizer.
Something is eating the edges of the leaves, leaving them looking scalloped. How do I fix this?
This scalloped damage is the classic sign of the bougainvillea looper caterpillar. These small green caterpillars feed at night and hide deep in the foliage during the day. Treat the plant with an organic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray or neem oil, thoroughly coating both sides of the leaves.
The whole plant suddenly looks wilted and limp, even though the soil is soaking wet. Is it dying?
This is a strong indicator of root rot. Bougainvillea roots are extremely sensitive to heavy, saturated conditions and will suffocate in poorly draining soil. Stop watering immediately to let the soil dry out. If it is in a pot, you may need to repot it immediately into a fast-draining, gritty mix to save the root system.