Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree)

Botanical name: Bauhinia blakeana

Common name: Hong Kong Orchid Tree

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae

Origin: Hong Kong

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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 blakeana

• Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia aureifolia (Gold Leaf Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bassacensis (Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bidentata (Orange Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bowkeri (Kei White Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia corymbosa (Vining bauhinia)
• Bauhinia cunninghamii (Jigal Tree)
• Bauhinia divaricata (Butterfly Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia forficata (Pata de Vaca)
• Bauhinia galpinii (Pride of De Kaap)