Bauhinia variegata 'Alba' (White orchid tree)
Botanical name: Bauhinia variegata
Common names: White orchid tree, White Mountain Ebony
Cultivar: Alba
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Origin: India
Hardiness: 30°F
Bauhinia variegata 'Alba', commonly known as White Orchid Tree, is a deciduous flowering tree in the Fabaceae family native to South and Southeast Asia. It typically grows 20 to 35 ft tall, forming a broad, spreading crown with distinctive bilobed leaves resembling a camel's hoof. This cultivar produces large, orchid-like flowers in pure white, often with a faint greenish or pale yellow throat, appearing in late winter to spring on bare or sparsely leafed branches.
This tree prefers full sun and well-drained soil, with moderate watering during establishment and good drought tolerance once mature. Growth rate is moderate. Cold tolerance is moderate, with damage likely below about 25 to 28F; best suited to USDA Zones 9 to 11. Bauhinia variegata 'Alba' is valued as an ornamental tree and can be grown in large containers while young. Learn more: Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings
Similar plants: Bauhinia variegata 'Alba' (White orchid tree)
- Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree)
- Bauhinia aureifolia (Gold Leaf Bauhinia)
- Bauhinia bassacensis (Bauhinia)
- Bauhinia bidentata (Orange Bauhinia)
- Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree)
- Bauhinia bowkeri (Kei White Bauhinia)
- Bauhinia corymbosa (Vining bauhinia)
- Bauhinia cunninghamii (Jigal Tree)
- Bauhinia divaricata (Butterfly Orchid Tree)
- Bauhinia forficata (Pata de Vaca)
Medium sized tree with abundant large fragrant white flowers with lemon-green markings that appear in winter-spring and intermittenly in summer. The tree has a short trunk, spreads branches and is marginally frost hardy. In tropical climate it is semi-evergreen, in cooler climates it is deciduous, flowering on leafless branches.
Spreading branches provide excellent shade. Abundant, fragrant white flowers adorned with subtle lemon-green markings, blooming from winter through spring and intermittently in summer.
Cold Hardy: Among the most frost-tolerant Bauhinias, thriving in temperatures as low as 26F.
Rapid Growth: Grows quickly, reaching heights of 15 to 30 feet, ideal for creating a lush, shaded area.
Attracts Pollinators: The large, showy flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, enhancing your garden's ecosystem.
Low Maintenance: Drought-tolerant once established and thrives in well-drained soil with full sun exposure.
Learn more: Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings
Recommended Fertilizer: SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster