Fred, you are asking the wrong guy about protecting large beaugainvillas as mine is in the compost pile right beside yours. I do have another one however that is doing well and was not protected. It is called a thornless tree beaugainvilla and produces tons of purple, fragrant blooms. Let me repeat: grows like a tree, has minimal thorns, seems to be hardy and is fragrant. The only place I could find it was Logee's. It came in a tiny pot but three years later it stands about 6 feet tall. I recommend this plant.
Jim
