The bougainvilleas and hibiscus here look the same! We'll probably have another cold snap so I would leave as is until late Feb. Don't want to encourage new tender growth.

This year I used towels over my Gerberas and they look great. Wish I'd remembered to protect the geraniums :-(

I'm betting she'll be fine after you cute her back. I once snapped mine off at the roots and she is trying to eat the entire house again.

One of mine in the front yard looks almost like yours,however one in the backyard where it really gets the ocean/canyon breeze is blooming like crazy.
Kathi

I'd leave it until it starts to bud out. Sometimes ours would die back to the ground and other times sprout out all along the whole long stem.

Covering it might not have helped. Bougies are really cold sensitive.

I'm 20 miles north of you in Juniper Flats (Nuevo). Our bugy dies back each winter and comes back each spring. Take the first frost as an opportunity to perform the year's severe pruning. If the bugy doesn't fit an evergreen desire, replace it.

Thanks everyone. I'll wait until Feb. to do any trimming. I can already see new growth at the base--yippee! This is the way it looked pre-frost...I love these lusty plants.

Wow,that's a beauty.
Kathi

Should be fine. My bougainvillea is about 30 years old and I can NOT kill it. I keep it trimmed to a square/rectangle shape (walkway on one side, deck/sitting area on the other) and it is always over growing. I can trim it and a week later it looks like I did nothing haha.

Oh and I'm about 20 miles or so from you if that makes a difference :)

Evelyn,how's your bougainvillea doing.I trimmed mine back some and it's in flower and looking very good again.
kathi

here's mine

{{gwi:504799}}

Pinky-red in lower back yard

{{gwi:476405}}

Kathi

Hi, Kathi - So so pretty! I trimmed my back a bit, and it is putting out new green at the base. If the temp goes back to the 30's, I'll throw a sheet over it.