Covering walls and scrambling over hillsides, vivid bougainvillea is a much-loved vine for warmer zones. The bright color comes not from the true flowers, which are tiny and inconspicuous, but from the bracts surrounding them. Bloom reaches its peak in midsummer, but flowers may appear from spring through fall and even into winter. Stems are outfitted in rich deep green, 1- to 2-inch leaves and equipped with needlelike thorns; they have no real means of attachment (though the thorns do help them scramble through other plants), so you'll need to tie them to the support you provide. The vines reach 15 to 30 feet.
Prune bougainvillea after the season's first bloom flush to keep its size under control, cutting back any stems that are growing beyond your desired limits. Don't be afraid to cut it to the shape you want.