Abstract: Bougainvillea, belonging to the family Nyctaginaceae and of prime importance for the horticulture industry worldwide,includes 14 members. Here we review the species’ biological characters,including ornamental performance, antiviral aspects, and natural pigment, and how they can be used efficiently. Besides its ornamental role, Bougainvillea has insulin-like effects of D-pinitol (3-O-methyl-chiroinositol), which opens a door to using D-pinitol as a food supplement for therapy for diabetes. The identification of two kinds of antiviral protein (BAPI and Bouganin) from leaf and root extracts of B. spectabilia could assist in the development of agriculturally favorable biopesticides. Bougainvillea is a model plant for studying the metabolic mechanisms of betalains. With abundant variety and content of betalains, bougainvilleas could be used for producing natural food pigments. In short, Bougainvillea is a resource plant with great potential for developing biopestic ides, agents for medical therapy and environmental bioremediation, and natural food pigments with high safety and nutrition.