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.

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Similar plants:

• Bauhinia bassacensis, Phanera bassacensis (Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia bidentata, Phanera bidentata (Orange Bauhinia, Orange Orchid Vine)
• Bauhinia corymbosa, Phanera corymbosa (Vining bauhinia, Climbing Bauhinia, Camel's foot)
• Bauhinia kockiana, Bauhinia coccinea, Phanera coccinea (Red Trailing Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia purpurea, Phanera purpurea (Orchid Tree, Butterfly Tree)
• Bauhinia semibifida, Phanera semibifida (Trailing Bauhinia)
• Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree, White Bauhinia, Kaa-long, Snowy Orchid)
• Bauhinia aureifolia (Gold Leaf Bauhinia, Bai Mai Si Thong)
• Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree)
• Bauhinia bowkeri (Kei White Bauhinia, Bowker's Bauhinia, Keibeesklou)