A sea of flowers in Guangzhou, south China

A bougainvillea blooms next to a statue. /VCG Photo

Colorful bougainvilleas at the Guangzhou Sculpture Park. /VCG Photo

Bougainvilleas and traditional Chinese screens. /VCG Photo

The thin bougainvillea bracts resemble semi-transparent colored tissue paper, earning it the name of "paper flower" in some quarters. /VCG Photo

Colorful blooming bougainvilleas. /VCG Photo

The thin bougainvillea bracts resemble semi-transparent colored tissue paper, earning it the name of "paper flower" in some quarters. /VCG Photo

Bougainvilleas surround a hand-shaped sculpture inside the Guangzhou Sculpture Park. /VCG Photo

Colorful bougainvilleas. /VCG Photo

Bougainvilleas form two lions and a ball. /VCG Photo

An outdoor tearoom decorated with bougainvilleas. /VCG Photo

Copper-colored bougainvilleas bathe in the sunlight. /VCG Photo

The 2019 Guangzhou Bougainvillea Show is underway at the Guangzhou Sculpture Park, south China's Guangdong Province. More than 150 new species of bougainvilleas and over 300 pots of the plant form a colorful sea of flowers for visitors.

The bougainvillea is native to South American countries, including Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. But it is found in other parts of the world such as the Caribbean and parts of the U.S.

The "blooming" part of the bougainvillea is not actually a flower at all. The colorful paper-like structures are a modified leaf called a bract. Its actual flowers are small and usually white or yellow.

A plant that flourishes in hot weather and sunshine, the bougainvillea has become a favorite among people living in southern China, where the temperature tends to be warmer.

The 2019 Guangzhou Bougainvillea Show ends on November 20.

(All images via VCG.)

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