Bauhinia variegata (Orchid tree)

Botanical names: Bauhinia variegata, Phanera variegata

Common names: Orchid tree, Purple orchid tree, Mountain ebony, Poor Man's orchid

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae

Origin: India and China

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Orchid tree grows 20-40' tall and 10-20' wide with a spreading crown of briefly deciduous leaves which are 4-6" across and rounded with lobed ends and heart shaped bases. The leaves are shaped a little like a cow's hoof. Some cultivars have leaves with white variegations. The flowers are reminiscent of showy orchids, with five irregular, usually slightly overlapping petals in shades of magenta, lavender or purplish blue. The flowers often make their first appearance in late winter while the tree is bare of leaves. The blooming period then lasts until early summer. The flowers are 3-5" across and carried in clusters at the branch tips. A member of the bean family, orchid tree produces flattened brown woody legumes (pods) up to 12" long. The cultivar 'Candida' has snow white flowers with greenish veins.

See Article about Bauhinia variegata.

See article about bauhinias.

Learn more: Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings

Similar plants: Bauhinia variegata (Orchid tree)

• Bauhinia bassacensis (Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bidentata (Orange Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia corymbosa (Vining bauhinia)
• Bauhinia kockiana (Red Trailing Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia purpurea (Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia yunnanensis (Chinese Orchid Tree)
• Phanera roxburghiana (Notched-Leaf Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia aureifolia (Gold Leaf Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree)