Bougainvillea garden plants are very hardy, and easy to grow.

In the past, it is often grown at landed property compounds especially at "vulnerable" corner areas" where a would be robber could have climbed into the home thru such a corner. For example, corner landed property, make full use of the "feature" of this plant i.e. depending on it's species, it either has tough torns or several species with smaller - softer torns.

However, it's branches requires regular maintenance e.g. every 2 to 3 months, best to trim it.

In Singapore, the most pronounced area is the "emergency" run-way along the East Coast Highway (ECP) towards the airport. We can see many potted bougainvillea plants. And along the side of the road.

This species has no less than 31 different varieties and two types of leaves. The flowers range from Singapore white to Chili Red; purple, yellow, scarlet etc...

This variety of bougainvillea is called Mrs eva.

There are several other pink/purplish ones: they are Singapore Pink, Mrs Eva Mauve Variegata and Formosa and Sakura Variegata...

1. In the 1960s to 1970s, the bougainvillea plant, especially the red and purple varieties, was very popular with Singapore landed property homes.

2. Many people planted bougainvillea at the corners of their homes for a reason: with its thorns, it was less likely for a robber to climb into the home from the fencing area.

3. However, the bougainvillea plant needs constant trimming, or it can quickly become overgrown.

4. This house has both bougainvillea and, just behind the cluster of bougainvillea plants, the Lipstick or Maharaja palm. The Lipstick palm has been very popular from the mid-1980s till today, surpassing bougainvillea and even mango and rambutan plants (which were popular in the 1970s).

 

These clusters of many-coloured bougainvillea plants are found along the Chuan Park fencing. Maroon, pink, yellow, purple, orange, etc. 
Bougainvillea plants have thorns, which serve as a deterrent.