Bougainvillea flowers blanket a long stretch of road in Ben Tre in shades of red.

Known as the 'Kingdom of Bougainvillea'

The tradition of growing bougainvillea in Cai Mon village began nearly 20 years ago, but only in the last 4-5 years, after the construction of bridges and roads, has Lan Dong hamlet expanded and developed the bougainvillea cultivation industry. Each year, households plant several hundred bougainvillea plants, with some households planting up to 3,000-4,000 plants. Notably, some households plant tens of thousands of plants. The total number of plants in the area is estimated to reach several hundred thousand. The bougainvillea here is considered beautiful, blooming evenly and in many colors. Traders from all over Vietnam come to buy them, including those from Tay Ninh, Bac Lieu, and even Hanoi and Con Dao.

The unique characteristics of bougainvillea

This year, favorable weather conditions resulted in beautiful blooms, leading many households to sell their flowers well since the 15th day of the 12th lunar month. The remaining potted flowers are simply waiting for traders to come and pick them up for sale. Garden owners shared that growing bougainvillea requires a lot of skill. Beginners who don't understand the techniques will end up with dull-looking flowers that wilt quickly.

Typically, to prepare for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), florists begin planting the plants as early as August. They prune the shoots around October 20th, and after nearly a month, the flowers will bloom and grow larger. The flowers can last until well past January without wilting. In recent years, growers often spray chemicals to keep the flowers fresh and prevent wilting during long-distance transport, resulting in higher prices.

Bougainvillea typically blooms during the monsoon season (near Tet), so customers don't need to do much care after purchasing them; the flowers will bloom on their own. Each plant, ranging from 0.6 to 1 meter tall, costs between 100,000 and 400,000 VND depending on the variety. Some older plants with beautiful bonsai shapes can cost tens of millions of VND.

Vu Minh Quan