Fabaceae - Botanical Family

Aspalathus, the genus to which the Rooibos Tea plant belongs, is endemic to South Africa.

Species of Aspalathus has never been developed into garden plants, although many attractive species show great potential as garden plants.

Baikiaea insignis is native to tropical Africa and is a notable ornamental landscape species valued for its garden fragrance. This small tree has branches that have a dense and spreading canopy, reaching 10-20 feet in width. Its dark green, shiny leaves of narrow oval shape create a beautiful contrast with its fragrant, white or off-white flowers. They attract a variety of pollinators like bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, making this a great option for gardens that not only strive to be beautiful, but also beneficial to the environment.

For best growing results, Baikiaea insignis should be planted in a site that receives full sun and moderate water. It flourishes best in USDA Zones 9-11 and can tolerate light frost. When growing this plant in colder climates, it should be planted in a container and brought inside during the cold season. During the warmer months, it will appreciate the outdoor air, but can be kept indoors as long as rough handling is avoided.

Baikiaea insignis requires minimal care with occasional pruning and clipping to maintain its desirable shape. It does best with occasional irrigations in the dry season. With its ability to withstand some drought, this species is a great addition to water-wise gardens.

Flowers in attractive short sprays, white with a yellow spot at the base of the standard petal, sweetly jasmine-scented.

This is a shrubby, hard-wooded tree with glossy dark green leaves and attractive creamy white pea flowers.

The scarlet flowers appear in clustered racemes with prominent stamens. Originally it came from tropical dry forests of Central America, but it has been extensively grown in tropical areas worldwide as a garden tree.

Semi-deciduous large shrub or small tree with white butterfly-like flowers, everblooming (Flower season: Spring through fall). Drought tolerant. Bauhinia acuminata is very sensitive to cold wind. Pea shaped pod with 4 to 6 seeds. See article about this plant.

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B. aureifolia, which was discovered in Thailand in 1983: a beautiful climber that needs full light and good humidity. The cultivated plants range from pure white to dark purple and pink, while the wild ones have often white petals with pinkish patches. This plant prefers dry to intermediate sites in any altitude range from sea level. Delicately fragrant in the evening, blooms May to November at 3-5 years old in any well drained soil with full light. Watch red spider mites and borers. Propagation by seeds from seed cases that have turned brown, also by cuttings and layering. Good branching.

See article about bauhinias.

See the article about Gold Leaf Bauhinia.

Unusual vining bauhinia with large leaves and white large flowers. Tropical plant, very cold sensitive. Needs support. The plant grows as a large woody vine.

See article about bauhinias.

Bauhinia blakeana, commonly known as Hong Kong orchid tree, is a spectacular flowering tree celebrated for its large orchid-like blooms and long flowering season. It originated in Hong Kong in the late nineteenth century as a sterile hybrid between Bauhinia variegata and Bauhinia purpurea.

The tree forms a broad, rounded canopy, typically reaching 20-40 feet tall. Its distinctive leaves are deeply divided into two rounded lobes, resembling a butterfly or camel's hoof - a hallmark of the genus.

The flowers are among the largest in the genus: rich magenta-purple with contrasting lighter markings, up to 5-6 inches across. In warm climates, blooming can continue from autumn through spring - an impressive display when little else is flowering. Sterility means the tree rarely sets seed pods and must be propagated vegetatively.

Bauhinia blakeana thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, becoming moderately drought tolerant once established. It adapts readily to urban landscapes, parks, and large gardens, and is one of the most widely planted ornamental Bauhinia species in subtropical regions (USDA Zones 9b-11). Mature trees can briefly tolerate temperatures down to 28 30F, though frost may damage foliage and young growth. See Article about Bauhinia blakeana.

See video about Hong Kong Orchid Tree

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