Bauhinia blakeana

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The most beautiful orchid tree. The tree was originally described as a new species in 1908 after being discovered on the near Hong Kong around 1880 and was named after a Hong Kong governor Sir Henry Blake who had a strong interest in botany. The tree is of medium size with alternate large heart shaped leaves. Large deep-purple flowers appears from January to May. The beautiful display of slightly fragrant orchid-like blooms makes the tree so desirable for the landscape. The flowers attract butterflies and bees. The species is believed to be sterile and will not set seed so the plant will not drop long pods as other orchid trees do. The flower of Bauhinia blakeana was adopted as the emblem of Hong Kong in 1965.

See Article about Bauhinia blakeana.

See video about Hong Kong Orchid Tree

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

Similar plants:

• Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree, White Bauhinia, Kaa-long, Snowy Orchid)
• Bauhinia aureifolia (Gold Leaf Bauhinia, Bai Mai Si Thong)
• Bauhinia bassacensis, Phanera bassacensis (Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bidentata, Phanera bidentata (Orange Bauhinia, Orange Orchid Vine)
• Bauhinia bowkeri (Kei White Bauhinia, Bowker's Bauhinia, Keibeesklou)
• Bauhinia corymbosa, Phanera corymbosa (Vining bauhinia, Climbing Bauhinia, Camel's foot)
• Bauhinia cunninghamii, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii (Jigal Tree, Kimberley Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia divaricata (Butterfly Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia forficata, Bauhinia candicans (Pata de Vaca, Brazilian Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia galpinii, Bauhinia punctata (Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia)