Bauhinia

( baw - HIN - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs is commonly called Orchid Tree, after their flowers which resemble those of Orchidia plants. They are also referred to as Mountain Ebony or Kachnar. These plants vary greatly by species in terms of water needs and light exposure requirements, but most thrive in warmer, tropical weather. These trees typically reach between 20 and 40 feet tall at maturity, and often fragrant flowers can bloom in shades of red, pink, purple, white, orange and yellow. These plants make great specimen or focal-point trees, shade trees, and can be colorful additions to shrubberies and border plantings. Take care when planting these trees in the home landscape, as some species have toxic properties.

Bauhinia Species and Varietals

The genus Bauhinia includes over 200 species of trees and shrubs, and is in the family Fabaceae. The genus is named for brothers Gaspard and Johann Bauhin, who were both Swiss-French botanists in the mid to late 1500s. Orchid Tree growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Bauhinia, White Orchid-Tree, Snowy Orchid-Tree)
This dwarfed species of Bauhinia is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These plants reach between 6.5 and 10 feet tall at maturity, and produce fragrant white flowers. Leaves are green and bilobed. These small trees are popular ornamentals that can sometimes escape cultivation, and also have edible roots, leaves and bark that are commonly consumed in India.

Bauhinia x blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree)
This hybrid is a cross between Bauhinia variegata and Bauhinia purpurea, and produces a tree with large, thick leaves and pinkish-purple flowers that bloom from November through March. This hybrid originated in 1880 in Hong Kong, and all trees are offspring of the original tree held in the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. These plants can reach between 20 and 40 feet tall at maturity.

Bauhinia divaricata (Bull Hoof, Mexican Orchid Tree, Pom Pom Orchid Tree, Butterfly Orchid Tree)
This species is native to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Flowers are wispy and pink to white, and are an excellent source of sweet nectar for local butterfly populations in its native range. These trees commonly reach about 20 feet tall at maturity, and the crown is umbrella-shaped.

Bauhinia forficata (Bauhinia candicans, Bauhinia corniculata) (Brazilian Butterfly Tree, Pata de Vaca, Pezuna de Vaca)
This species takes the form of a evergreen to deciduous shrub that reaches 20 feet tall and just as wide. It is best in zones 9 and 12-23 and is native to Brazil. This very hardy species of Bauhinia has a picturesque canopy that is great for shading patios. Flowers are creamy white and bloom from spring through summer. Leaves are dark green. Needs afternoon shade in warmer climates to avoid sunburn.

Bauhinia galpinii (Bauhinia punctata) (Red Bauhinia, Nasturtium Bush, South African Orchid Bush)
This species is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub and grows best in zones 13, 15, 16, 18-24, H1 and H2. It is native to South Africa and is a sprawling plant that reaches 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Flowers are red to orange-red and bloom from spring through fall. Great as an espalier plant if on a warm wall. Can also make a great bonsai in a large container if hard pruned frequently. Fairly drought tolerant.

Bauhinia lunarioides (Texasplume, Anacacho Orchid Tree, Pata de Vaca)
These small trees are great additions to many landscapes as specimen trees and focal points of smaller gardens. This species is native to southwestern Texas and northern Mexico, and top out at around 14 feet tall. Flowers are small and white (sometimes pink). These plants are becoming increasingly popular for sale at nurseries.

​Bauhinia monandra (Pink Bauhinia, Orchid Tree, Napoleon's Plume)
This species, native to Madagascar, loves to grow in lowland humid and dry forests. These trees reach between 10 and 50 feet tall, have green bilobed leaves and produce beautiful pink and white flowers with magenta-red and sometimes creamy markings. Great specimen or shade tree.

Bauhinia petersiana (Kalahari White Bauhinia)
This species of shrubs or small trees is native to central, southern, and eastern areas on the African continent. These plants can withstand frost conditions, and typically reach between 6.5 and 13 feet tall (as shrubs) or up to 23 feet tall (as trees). Seeds produced by this species are considered a delicacy in the plant's native range, and are used as a coffee substitute. Flowers are frilly and white, with pink-red stamens. Leaves are green and bilobed.

Bauhinia purpurea (Orchid Tree, Purple Bauhinia, Camel's Foot, Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree)
​This medium-sized deciduous tree reaches 17 feet tall when mature, and produces wonderful shows of dramatic purple-pink fragrant flowers. These plants are native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and grow well in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. 

Bauhinia racemosa (Bidi Leaf Tree, Aapta Tree)
This rare, religiously significant small tree reaches between 10 and 16 feet tall and has a crooked, drooping form. Bilobed leaves are stout and green, and flowers are white, blooming February though May. 

Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Bauhinia, Yellow Bell Orchid Tree)
This species of Bauhinia is native to South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tropical Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. These are small trees that top out around 15 feet when mature. They produce yellow flowers and have grey, smooth bark. 

​Bauhinia variegata (Bauhinia decora) (Orchid Tree, Mountain Ebony, Kachnar, Purple Orchid Tree)
This species of Bauhinia forms a medium-sized tree that reaches between 33 and 39 feet tall when mature. These trees are deciduous in the summertime, and produce pink to whitish flowers. Pods that follow blooms take on a corkscrew appearance when ready to send out seeds, and will produce an audible cracking sound when they do so. These are very popular ornamental trees for subtropical and tropical climates.

Caring for and pruning bauhinia Trees

Plant your Bauhinia in full sun to partial shade. These trees thrive in bright sunlight, but can tolerate some shady conditions, especially in particularly hot climates, or in the late afternoon when the sun is at its most intense. It is essential that soil is well-draining, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. When getting established, young trees benefit from regular waterings in order to form a strong root system. Once established, these trees and shrubs are relatively drought-tolerant and can get by with occasional deep waterings with more frequent soakings in the warmest months of the year. Mulch around the base of the plant after installation. This will help regulate soil temperature, suppress weed growth and increase soil moisture retention. Some species may need training or staking in order to keep an upright growth trajectory. Some species that have a more vining habit will enjoy climbing on a trellis or other support structure.

These plants can benefit from a twice-yearly feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in spring and summertime. Avoid over-fertilizing Bauhinias, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Prune to maintain an attractive shape and manageable size, and to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Prunings should be completed each year after the flowers have faded. This will encourage branching and a more compact growth habit. In wintertime (especially in cooler climates and with younger plants) Bauhinias will need protection from frost and drying, cold winds. Mulching around the base of the plant can help protect roots from frost, and frost cloth can be used to cover smaller plants.

Propagation

Bauhinia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Bauhinia, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Bauhinia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In late spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch ripe to semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Bauhinia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. Bauhinia seeds are contained in pods that curl like corkscrews when ready to open and release their seeds into the environment. Pick these curly seed pods off of the tree and place them in a paper bag. Shake the bag to release seeds. Once seeds have been released, take them out and set them aside. Seeds can be stored in a cool, dry, dark place until the following springtime when they will be sown.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-28 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Bauhinia seed pods.
Bauhinia seeds.

Problems and Pests

The following pests and diseases affect Bauhinia plants:
  • Borers
  • Mites
  • Aphids
  • Mealybugs
  • Leafcutter Bees
  • Leaf Spot
  • Clitoria Yellow Vein Virus
  • Turnip Rosette Virus
If you'd like more information on these topics, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

These trees can be grown in containers or directly in the ground.
Bauhinia trees are small, perfect for scaled-down gardens.
Close-up views of the blooms reveal why these are called Orchid Trees.
Bauhinia trees make striking street trees.
Some species are more shrubby and vining, others take the form of upright small to medium-sized trees.
Bauhinia trees can be grown in sun or partial shade, and do well in well-lit understory 

Videos

All about Purple Orchid Tree.
How to grow Bauhinia from seed.
Learn about these unique shrubby plants.
How to grow and care for Bauhinia tomentosa.

Resources

No Orchid Tree Flowers Yet? Here's What to Do.
How to Grow and Care for Orchid Tree
Bauhinia Plant: A Complete Guide to Growing and Caring for The Orchid Tree
How to Grow and Care for Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Wikipedia: Bauhinia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 188, Bauhinia (Orchid Trees)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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