A tropical and subtropical plant, bougainvillea did not appear in France until the late 18th century after botanist Philibert Commerson described and named a specimen collected in Brazil during an expedition led by the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville. This highly floriferous summer climbing plant today adorns many facades in the Orange Tree zone (Spain, Portugal, French Riviera, etc). Its bracts are renewed all summer in favorable sunshine and exposure conditions. The Bougainvillea glabra Sanderiana variety with abundant purple flowers visible in Porquerolles is the most established in the south of France. Also the hardiest, it withstands temperatures down to -41°F (-5°C).