Bougainvillea 'Raspberry Ice': Variegated Foliage Meets Vibrant Blooms

The Stunning Variegated Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea 'Raspberry Ice' is a spectacular cultivar that combines the intense floral display typical of bougainvilleas with striking cream-and-green variegated foliage. This Brazilian native selection offers year-round interest in frost-free climates.

Taxonomic Details

Dual Ornamental Appeal

The showy "flowers" are actually colorful bracts—papery modified leaves—in vibrant raspberry-pink to magenta shades that surround tiny true flowers. These appear in profusion from spring through fall, often year-round in tropical conditions. Equally striking is the foliage: deep green leaves broadly margined with creamy white, providing contrast even when not in bloom.

This vigorous vine/shrub can reach 15-20 feet if supported, or be maintained as a compact 4-6 foot shrub with pruning. It demands full sun, well-draining soil, and minimal water once established—bloom is actually enhanced by slight drought stress.

Landscape Versatility

Train on walls, trellises, and arbors; cascade over retaining walls; shape as a flowering hedge or standard; or grow in large containers. The variegated foliage brightens shaded areas even when bloom cycles pause. Thorny stems provide security barrier potential. Hardy in zones 9-11; container-grow elsewhere with winter protection.