Use of nanoparticles in various fields is raising their demand day by day. Different wet chemical methods are frequently used for the preparation of metallic nanoparticles. However, the chemicals used are generally harmful and inflammable. In the present investigation we describe a cost effective and eco friendly technique for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the pink bract extract of Bougainvillea spectabilis. The reaction process was simple and convenient to handle, and the kinetics of silver nanoparticle formation was followed by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM and EDX analysis. The reduction of silver ions by the extract from bracts led to the formation of cubic and hexagonal nanoparticles. This method of silver nanoparticle production provides a fast and safe rate of synthesis as compared with those involving chemical methods, and can potentially be used in various human contacting areas such as cosmetics, foods and medical applications.