Bougainvillea, the explorer's plant

Here, bougainvilleas come in all sizes. Originally from Brazil, they have adapted so well to the Mediterranean climate that they can be found in many gardens and balconies in Marrakech. Bougainvilleas love the sun, bloom from May to November, and live for several years. They were named after the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville by the botanist Philibert Commerson.

A surprising shrub

The finest specimens can reach up to 8 meters tall. Contrary to popular belief, the flowers of bougainvillea are small and white; it is the protective envelopes called bracts that lend all the charm to the plant. Climbing and thorny, it also finds its place on terraces, gracefully falling along walls, much like hanging gardens. 

Whether white, red, pink, or orange, these bracts have a texture and touch like tissue paper. This explosion of colors that lights up the streets and gardens is not in vain; the plant signals its flowering to pollinating insects. And it equally catches the eye of both Moroccan passersby and tourists.

You can admire beautiful specimens in the gardens of La Mamounia. But each major hotel decorates its gardens with a few bougainvilleas. Elsewhere, during your visits, it's common to encounter its colorful presence around a street corner.