Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date:

🌸 Bauhinias – Orchid Trees for Every Garden

🌳 Large Yard – Shade Trees

B. alba – White Orchid Tree

  • Pure white blooms, most cold-tolerant orchid tree
  • Bloom: Late fall to spring
  • Size: 20–30 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9a–11

Bauhinia alba (candida), White orchid tree
2035 Bauhinia alba (candida), White orchid tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$49.95


Buy Bauhinia alba (candida), White orchid tree  from Top Tropicals

B. blakeana – Hong Kong Orchid Tree

  • Purple-magenta flowers, long bloom season
  • Bloom: Late fall to early spring
  • Size: 20–35 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Grafted
1310 Bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Grafted
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot, grafted

$49.95


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B. purpurea – Purple Orchid Tree

  • Compact canopy, vivid purple flowers
  • Bloom: Summer to fall
  • Size: 15–25 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia purpurea, Purple Orchid Tree
1024 Bauhinia purpurea, Purple Orchid Tree
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot

$29.95


Buy Bauhinia purpurea, Purple Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

B. variegata – Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree

  • Pink petals with darker butterfly-like markings
  • Bloom: Winter to early spring
  • Size: 20–30 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree
2728 Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree
Grown in
6"/1 gal or larger pot

$49.95
  
Sale $29.95


Buy Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

Small Garden or Container

B. madagascariensis – Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

  • Bright red flowers, great for container
  • Bloom: Summer into fall
  • Size: 6-12 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree
6061 Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$49.95


Buy Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

B. tomentosa – Yellow Orchid Tree

  • Sunny yellow bells, soft foliage
  • Bloom: Warm months
  • Size: 6-10 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia tomentosa, Yellow Orchid Tree
1025 Bauhinia tomentosa, Yellow Orchid Tree
Grown in
6"/1 gal or larger pot

$49.95


Buy Bauhinia tomentosa, Yellow Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

B. monandra – Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree

  • Pink with speckled petals
  • Bloom: Summer to fall
  • Size: 6-12 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 10–11

Bauhinia monandra, Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree
1368 Bauhinia monandra, Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree
Grown in
10'/3 GAL POT

$49.95


Buy Bauhinia monandra, Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

B. acuminata – Dwarf White Orchid Tree

  • Crisp white blooms, small plant
  • Bloom: Summer to fall
  • Size: 6–8 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 10–11

Bauhinia acuminata, Dwarf White Orchid Tree
2032 Bauhinia acuminata, Dwarf White Orchid Tree
Grown in
6"/1 gal or larger pot

$39.95


Buy Bauhinia acuminata, Dwarf White Orchid Tree  from Top Tropicals

🌿 Vining Beauty

B. galpinii – Pride of De Kaap

  • Pink with speckled petals
  • Bloom: Summer to fall
  • Size: 8-12 ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 9b–11

Bauhinia galpinii, Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia
2034 Bauhinia galpinii, Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia
Grown in
10"/3 gal pot

$39.95
  
Sale $29.95


Buy Bauhinia galpinii, Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia  from Top Tropicals

Read Garden Blog about Bauhinia

Buy Bauhinia Trees - Delivered to Your Door

Date:

🌸 Orchid Tree - Bauhinia: Winter Blooms & Year-Round Beauty

Collage showing Bauhinia blakeana with magenta flowers, Bauhinia variegata var. candida with white blooms, and Bauhinia monandra with pink speckled flowers; all suitable for gardens, with some varieties adapted to container growing if trimmed.
Bauhinia blakeana, Bauhinia variegata var. candida, and Bauhinia monandra – Orchid Trees in Bloom

Sometimes a plant stops you midwalk. Flowers so bright they almost glow, leaves shaped like butterflies — that’s a Bauhinia, the Orchid Tree. These fast growers bring color when many gardens are quiet, with some blooming in the heart of winter.

🌟 Why Grow Bauhinia?

  • Exotic blooms in colors from white to deep magenta
  • Distinctive leaves — nature’s own butterfly design
  • Many varieties flower in the cooler season
  • Fast growth, easy shaping, more blooms after pruning
  • Varieties for large yards, small gardens, and sunny patios
  • Tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils

Bauhinia Care Tips

🌞 Outdoor

Full sun for best flowering, well-draining soil, deep watering once established. Light pruning after bloom keeps shape and encourages more flowers. Protect young plants from frost. During the growing season (Spring - Fall), apply a balanced fertilizer - like top-dress slow release fertilizer or controlled-release Green Magic. Liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters Megaflor can be used year around - to promote vigorous growth and abundant blooms.

🏡 Indoor / Patio

Bright sun (south window or outdoors in warm months), large pot with drainage, even moisture during growth, and a bloom-booster feed in season. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer controlled-release Green Magic. Liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters Megaflor can be used year around - to promote vigorous growth and abundant blooms. Bring indoors before frost.

🍂 Seasonal Note – Bauhinias are Deciduous

Bauhinias drop their leaves in winter — even in warm climates. This is normal and part of their rest cycle. Bare branches in the cool season will leaf out again in spring, often just as flowers begin.

📝 Quick choice guide

Shop Bauhinas

Date:

Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers
and Butterfly Wings...

Bauhinia variegata - Purple Orchid Tree

Photo above: Bauhinia variegata - Purple Orchid Tree, one of the most spectacular varieties.

Q: We just moved to Florida and I see these beautiful trees with large purple flowers. I was told these are Orchid trees, do you have them?

A: Bauhinias, commonly known as Orchid trees, are renowned for their captivating flowers and unique foliage. These trees typically grow to a moderate height of 15-25 feet with a spread of 10-15 feet, showcasing a rounded to vase-like shape. Thriving in hardiness zones 9-11, they exhibit resilience to heat and can withstand mild frost. There are over 300 species of Bauhinia, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. These species vary in characteristics such as size, foliage, and flower color, contributing to the diversity and appeal of this genus. You can find them as trees, shrubs, and even vines.

Bauhinias are evergreen (in tropics) to semi-deciduous (in cooler climates), offering year-round beauty with intermittent blooming cycles. The peak bloom time varies depending on the species and location, often occurring in late winter to early spring, bedecking the tree with striking orchid-like flowers in hues ranging from white and pink to purple and red. The flowers boast delicate petals with intricate patterns, resembling the elegance of true orchids.

One of the distinguishing features of Bauhinia leaves is their unique bi-lobed or bilobed structure, which gives them a distinct appearance. The leaves are deeply divided, typically into two lobes or halves, hence the common name "Butterfly tree" due to their resemblance to butterfly wings. This characteristic is often used as an identifying trait for Bauhinia species. The bilobed leaves add to the visual appeal of the tree, contributing to its ornamental value in addition to its beautiful flowers.

Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons plume

Photo above: Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons Plume, starts flowering in small size. This one is very beautiful but the most cold sensitive and should be grown in pots in areas with winter freeze. It will happily bloom in container!

Low-maintenance by nature, Bauhinias require minimal upkeep. Annual feeding with a balanced fertilizer enhances growth and flowering. Pruning is generally optional but can be done in late winter or spring, after flowering, to maintain shape or remove dead or damaged branches. These trees thrive in full sun, preferring well-drained soil. With their enchanting blooms and easy care requirements, Bauhinia orchid trees are a delightful addition to any landscape, and a colorful specimen for tropical winter gardens.

In addition, Orchid trees grow fast and provide excellent shade. They can make a shady spot in your garden in no time, giving relief from the hot sun. This is really valuable, especially in places where it gets very hot. So, not only are Orchid trees pretty to look at with their lovely flowers, but they're also great for keeping you cool!

Read more about Bauninias:
Bauihnias: Orchid trees with Butterfly flowers... and leaves

Shop Orchid trees

Bauhinia x alba (candida) - White orchid tree

Photo above: Bauhinia x alba (candida) - White orchid tree, the most cold hardy variety that can take light freeze once established.

Bauhinia purpurea - Purple Orchid Tree

Photo above: Bauhinia purpurea - Purple Orchid Tree, one of the most popular and easy trees in Southern landscapes.

Date:

Napoleons Plume - Orchid Tree that blooms in a pot. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Napoleons Plume - Orchid Tree that blooms in a pot

Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree in bloom

🌸 Napoleons Plume - Orchid Tree that blooms in a pot
  • Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree - is a breathtaking tropical tree with flowers that truly resemble delicate orchids, and leaves folding like butterfly wings. It is one of he most impressive varieties of orchid trees.
  • Each blossom starts off pale yellow and transforms to soft pink by the next day, with the center petal beautifully streaked in magenta - a unique color shift that makes the tree look like it's blooming in multiple shades at once. When in bloom, it's covered in these showy flowers, creating a dazzling display.
  • Despite its exotic look, this tree is surprisingly well-suited for containers. It can be easily kept trimmed and compact, with seedlings often blooming when just 2 feet tall. While it's sensitive to cold, growing it in a container makes it easy to move indoors during chilly weather. This makes Bauhinia monandra the perfect choice for gardeners who want a tropical tree that delivers nonstop visual impact in a manageable size.
  • How to enjoy the orchid flowers and butterfly foliage of Bauhinia right on your patio or balcony? Choose the right variety. More bauhinia species suitable for containers: B. galpinii, B. madagascariensis, B. monandra, B. alba (candida), B. acuminata, B. bidentata, B. blakeana, B. grandidieri and many others.


🛒 Shop Orchid Trees

📚 Learn more about Orchid trees:

#Container_Garden #How_to #Trees

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Why gardeners love the Pink Butterfly Tree: blooms, shade, and zero fuss. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why gardeners love the Pink Butterfly Tree: blooms, shade, and zero fuss

Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree

Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree

Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree, flowers close up

Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree, flowers close up

🌸 Why gardeners love the Pink Butterfly Tree: blooms, shade, and zero fuss
  • 🌸 Bauhinia variegata, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree - is a gorgeous, fast-growing tree with orchid-like blooms in shades of magenta to lavender. Flowers appear from late winter through spring - and sometimes again in summer - filling the air with a soft, sweet fragrance. Its butterfly-shaped leaves and wide canopy make it perfect as a focal point, shade tree, or street-side beauty. Great for sustainable landscapes, shelterbelts, and windbreaks too.
  • 🌸 Easygoing and low-maintenance, it thrives in just about any soil - loam, sand, clay, even rocky ground - as long as it drains well. Loves full sun, needs little water once established, and grows fast (up to 2–3 feet per year) with plenty of cooling shade.
  • 🌸 The bright blooms bring in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
  • 🌸 Extra bonus: its buds and blossoms are edible and used in traditional cooking, and the bark has been used in folk remedies for things like thyroid and ulcers.
  • 🌸 Tough, fast, and blooming with elegance, the Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree is a gorgeous shade tree that thrives on neglect - poor soil, low water, no problem! Fragrant, orchid-like flowers light up your garden from winter to spring: easy to grow and even easier to love!


🛒 Limited stock - plant one this season!
Discover more Bauhinias - Orchid trees.

📚 Learn more about Orchid trees:

#Trees

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

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How to grow Orchid Trees in pots. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to grow Orchid Trees in pots

Orchid Trees in pots

🌸 How to grow Orchid Trees in pots

Everyone loves beautiful Orchid trees with butterfly-like leaves and colorful orchid-like flowers. They are widely used in Southern landscapes. But what if you don't have a room in your garden for another tree? Or what if it gets too cold in winter for a tropical Orchid tree? You can grow it in a pot!

📝 This is how to n enjoy the stunning flowers and foliage of Bauhinia right on your patio or balcony:
  • 💠 Choose the right variety. Some species suitable for containers:

    • B. galpinii, B. madagascariensis, B. monandra, B. alba (candida), B. acuminata, B. bidentata, B. blakeana, B. grandidieri and many others.
  • 💠 Choose the right pot: Select a large, sturdy pot with good drainage holes. Bauhinia trees have a vigorous root system
  • 💠 Use a well-draining potting mix. We recommend a professional soilless mix: Sunshine Abundance.
  • 💠 Sunny location: Position the pot in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. Bauhinia plants thrive in warm, sunny conditions.
  • 💠 Watering: Keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
  • 💠 Fertilizing: For the most profuse flowering like in the video, feed the Bauhinia with liquid Sunshine Boosters Megaflor year around, it's safe with every watering.
  • 💠 Pruning: Prune the plant to maintain its shape and encourage bushier growth.
  • 💠 Winter Care: If you live in a region with cold winters, bring the pot indoors or to a sheltered location to protect the plant from frost.


📸 Bauhinia monandra - Napoleons Plume Orchid Tree, starts flowering when only 2 ft tall and grows well in containers.

📚 Earlier posts on Bauhinias: 1 2 3
Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings

🛒 Shop Orchid Trees

#Container_Garden #How_to

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around?

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

💋 What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around? Madagascar Orchid Tree.

We showed you in earlier post one showy red Orchid tree - Bauhinia galpinii; but this one is even more spectacular!
  • 🔴 Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree is a very rare plant in cultivation and one of the most spectacular Bauhinia. Rare, collectible species.
  • 🔴 Flowers and extremely showy, look like scarlet butterflies with bright yellow stripes at the base of each petal.
  • 🔴 It grows into a small tree or tall bush. Fast growing. Attracts butterflies.
  • 🔴 Plant in in full sun to get the most of its flowering season - this one literally blooms year around!


📚 More posts about Bauhinias:

🛒 Order rare Bauhinia madagascariensis

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

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What trees are fruiting and blooming right now?

Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Photo above: Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Q: What tropical trees are fruiting and flowering in March?

A: There's always something blooming and fruiting, especially with spring on the way! Our garden is buzzing with bees and butterflies, and in the nursery, you'll always find plants in bloom or bearing fruit. Here are a few standout winners of the season.

Orchid Trees

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

Orchid trees are among the most spectacular trees in Florida, flowering from late winter through spring. They are fast-growing, not fussy about soil or water, and bloom for several weeks in a stunning display of white, purple, pink, or red flowers. In the photo: Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - the most cold-hardy of all Bauhinias, tolerating temperatures as low as 26F. You can see them in full bloom across Florida right now!

Shop Orchid trees

Carambola - Star Fruit

Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)

Starfruit trees (Averrhoa carambola) have been fruiting in our garden since fall, and they just keep producing! We've had so many starfruits that we ended up making lots of jam.

Shop Carambolas

Calliandra

Calliandra tweedi With Love - Red Tassel Flower

Calliandras are known to be spectacular winter bloomers, but in our garden, they seem to flower year-round. They make fantastic ever-blooming hedges or striking small specimen trees.
In the photo: red-flowering Calliandra tweedii "With Love" - Red Tassel Flower, yright now, this beautiful bush is covered in red blooms in front of our office at Sebring Farm.

Shop Calliandras

Mulberry Trees

Mulberry fruit on the tree

Yes, it's Mulberry season! Some varieties have already ripened, while others are just about to. We're competing with the birds to see who gets the first fruit, but honestly, there's plenty for everyone! These trees are very cold hardy and highly productive.

Shop Mulberry trees

Loquat Trees

Loquat tree Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat trees (Eriobotrya japonica) are loaded with fruit right now! We've started picking them and have already made some delicious preserves - you can only eat so many fresh. Loquats continue fruiting through April and May, making them one of the most rewarding, easy-to-grow, and productive fruit trees.

Shop Loquat trees

Tabebuia Trees

Tabebuia impetiginosa - Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, Pau DArco, Taheebo

Tabebuia trees put on a spectacular show from late winter through spring! Golden and pink Tabebuias are small, compact trees that fit any yard and deliver a breathtaking display year after year.
Check out these short videos of blooming Tabebuias:
Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia
Tabebuia impetiginosa - Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, Pau DArco, Taheebo

Shop Tabebuia trees

Date:

What is in bloom right now? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is in bloom right now?

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

What is in bloom right now?

😡 Orchid trees are among the most spectacular trees in Florida, flowering from late winter through spring. They are fast-growing, not fussy about soil or water, and bloom for several weeks in a stunning display of white, purple, pink, or red flowers.

📸 Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - the most cold-hardy of all Bauhinias, tolerating temperatures as low as 26F. You can see them in full bloom across Florida right now!

📚 Orchid trees from previous posts:

🛍 Shop Orchid Trees

#Hedges_with_benefits #Trees #Butterfly_Plants

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Why red flowers are so attractive? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why red flowers are so attractive?

Bauhinia galpinii (punctata) - Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia

❓ Why red flowers are so attractive? ❤️

💋 If red is your favorite color for flowers, this is your plant!👇
  • ❤️ Bauhinia galpinii (punctata) - Pride of De Kaap or Nasturtium Bauhinia - belongs to Orchid trees that we mentioned earlier. But this one has very unusual color of flowers for Bauhinias: bright red or scarlet!
  • ❤️ Native to South Africa, this is a woody, vining shrub that also can be trained into a small tree, reaching 6-10 ft in height.
  • ❤️ As a all orchid trees it has deep green, bilobed leaves are resembling butterfly wings.
  • ❤️ Blooms almost year around, from Summer through late Fall, with vibrant orange-red, resembling those of nasturtiums, coming in clusters. Well-known for its stunning floral display.
  • ❤️ Hardy, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant once established. Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
  • ❤️ Attracts butterflies and bees


🛒 Order Pride of De Kaap

#Hedges_with_benefits

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