💞 Cassia or Bauhinia?

Looking for a small tree that blooms like fireworks but still fits on your patio? We hear this question all the time at Top Tropicals: Cassia or Bauhinia? Both are tropical showstoppers, but they shine in very different ways.

🌞 Cassias: Sunshine Fireworks

Cassia trees are some of the most rewarding tropical bloomers you can grow. Fast-growing, free-flowering, and surprisingly cold-tolerant, they thrive in full sun and summer heat. Their bright clusters come in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and even multicolor blends. The famous Rainbow Cassias show swirls of coral, gold, and rose on the same tree, creating a living fireworks display.

For gardeners in warm regions, these trees become spectacular focal points in the landscape. In containers, compact yellow forms like Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia) and Senna alata (Empress Candles) stay manageable and bloom freely through summer.

Cassias can also be grown in pots with pruning and patience. Once mature, they reward you with breathtaking color that turns any patio or pool deck into a tropical show. Most showy cassias (numbers correspond to the photos in the collage above):

1. Cassia bicapsularis (Butterfly Bush) - is a fast-growing, low-maintenance shrub covered in bright yellow, butterfly-like blooms from fall through winter.
2. Cassia x natalensis (Rainbow Cassia)
3. Cassia grandis (Red cassia) - a medium size tree having profuse blooms of dark pink to crimson flowers throughout the Spring.
4. Cassia didymobotrya (Popcorn Cassia), small tree producing golden-yellow flowers with a distinct scent of peanut butter that open from brown buds in late summer and autumn. Similar to Senna alata (Empress Candles)
5. Cassia roxburghii (Ceylon Senna) - graceful tree with spreading, drooping branches appearing to be overweighed by its wealth of clustering red blossoms.
6. Cassia x nodosa (Pink Shower) - is a spectacular medium-sized, fast-growing tree with cascading clusters of fragrant pink-and-white appleblossom blooms in spring and summer.
7. Cassia fistula (Golden Shower) - to many tropical gardeners, the most beautiful of cassias with masses of bright gold flower clusters appear on almost every branch.
8. Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom) - dazzles with dense clusters of pink-to-white blossoms that change shades as they bloom, creating a spectacular display that lasts for months.

"Cassias love the heat and sunshine," says Tatiana Anderson, Top Tropicals Plant Expert. "They are perfect for anyone who wants big bursts of color and doesn’t mind giving them space and light to grow."

👉 Explore Cassia Trees

Bauhinia Magic: Orchid-Like Blooms in a Compact Size

Bauhinia orchid trees: top left – Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree), middle left – Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree), bottom left – Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon’s Plume Orchid Tree), top right – Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Dwarf Orchid Tree), and bottom right – Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree)

Bauhinia trees known as Orchid Trees, bring a touch of tropical luxury to any space. Their butterfly-shaped leaves and orchid-like blossoms appear in shades of red, pink, purple, white, and yellow, often lasting up to ten months a year. Bauhinias are ideal for gardeners who want nonstop color in a manageable size. Most species grow well in large pots and bloom young, often within the first season.

The following compact varieties stay neat and flower almost continuously in warm weather:

• Bauhinia madagascariensis (Red Butterfly Orchid Tree). Blooms from winter through fall, up to 10 months a year. The most cold-hardy of all.
• Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree). A large tree in the ground, but compact in pots if trimmed. Grafted trees flower right away. Winter bloomer, cold hardy to light frost.
• Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow Orchid Tree). Flowers from Winter through Summer, cold hardy to light frost.
• Bauhinia acuminata (Dwarf White Orchid Tree). Blooms from summer through winter. Less cold hardy.
• Bauhinia monandra (Napoleon's Plume Orchid Tree). Almost everblooming with the longest flowering period. Less cold hardy.

The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is especially prized because it is sterile and produces no messy seed pods, keeping patios clean. Grafted Buhinia blakeana trees begin blooming while still small, making them perfect for containers or tight spaces.

"Bauhinias are generous bloomers," Tatiana explains. "They respond beautifully to regular feeding and full sun. If nights turn too cold, just move the pot to a sunny porch - they’ll keep their tropical charm most of the year."

Give them full sun, regular fertilizer, and a well-drained mix such as Sunshine Abundance, and they will reward you with months of vivid blooms. When nights turn too cold, simply move the pot to a sunny porch or bright window. Bauhinias adjust beautifully and keep their tropical grace year after year.

🎥 Watch Short Videos:

💲 Special Offer – 20% off Cassias and Bauhinias!

Get 20% OFF Cassias and Bauhinias with code

RAINBOW2025

Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers.

Hurry, offer expires October 30, 2025!

👉 Explore Bauhinias - Orchid Trees

⭐ The Winter Stars: 8 Flowering Trees That Steal the Show

8 Best Flowering Trees That Bloom in Winter: Royal Poinciana with red-orange canopy, Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, Dwarf Golden Tabebuia, Pink Butterfly Orchid Tree, Golden Rain Tree, Weeping Red Bottlebrush, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, and Jacaranda with purple flowers.

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

The diva of tropical trees. Huge red-orange flowers blanket the branches from late winter through summer. If you’ve ever seen one in full bloom, you know — it stops traffic. Best in large yards or open spaces, but young ones do great in big pots for a few years. 🛒 Shop
Tatiana: “If you want a tree that makes people say ‘wow,’ this is it.”

Tabebuia chrysotricha – Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Small tree, big drama. It turns solid gold just before new leaves appear. Blooms while completely bare — a stunning contrast of yellow on brown wood. Perfect for patios, courtyards, and containers. Handles cool nights down to the mid-20s F. Bright, cheerful, and forgiving — the kind of tree that always looks like it’s celebrating. 🛒 Shop

Tabebuia impetiginosa – Dwarf Pink Tabebuia (Pau D’Arco)

The Florida “cherry blossom.” Pink-lavender flowers smother the branches each winter, often before any leaves return. Thrives in sandy soil, tolerates drought, and grows beautifully in large planters or pots indoors near a sunny window. Ideal for seasonal residents or anyone who wants color when everything else is asleep. 🛒 Shop

Jacaranda mimosifolia

If color had music, this would be jazz. Soft, fern-like leaves and cascades of violet-blue trumpet flowers — airy, elegant, unforgettable. Outdoors, it makes a graceful shade tree; in containers, it stays compact with regular pruning. Jacarandas reward patience — they bloom bigger each year. 🛒 Shop

Koelreuteria paniculata – Golden Rain Tree

A favorite for its surprises — golden blooms in summer, pink paper lantern pods in fall, and bronze leaves before rest. Fast-growing, tough, and easy. Loves full sun and moderate water. Great for open lawns or patio tubs. The kind of tree that gives you something new to look at every month. 🛒 Shop

Callistemon citrinus – Bottlebrush Tree

The hummingbird magnet. Bright red, brush-shaped flowers bloom several times a year — sometimes even in cool weather. The dwarf form, ‘Little John,’ stays about 4 feet tall, perfect for pots or small borders. Trim lightly after flowering to keep it compact and colorful. 🛒 Shop
Tatiana: “If you’ve never grown a tropical tree before — start here. It’s the friendliest one.”

Bauhinia variegata – Pink Butterfly Tree

Graceful, fragrant, and forgiving. Its pink-lavender orchid-like flowers open from late winter through spring, filling the garden with color and pollinators. It’s fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and excellent for both ground and pots. Even the buds are edible — a fun bonus for adventurous gardeners. 🛒 Shop

Bauhinia blakeana – Hong Kong Orchid Tree

The queen of them all. Huge magenta-purple blooms that last for months, from fall through spring. Fragrant, clean (no messy seed pods), and perfect for patios or large decorative containers. Give it sun, a little water, and it will reward you with bloom after bloom. 🛒 Shop
Tatiana: “It’s the one tree that never lets winter win.”

A note on grafted Hong Kong Orchid Trees: Most Hong Kong Orchid Trees are grafted, and that’s actually a big advantage. Because they don’t grow from seed, grafted plants mature faster and begin blooming while still small — sometimes within the first year. That makes them perfect for patio pots or small gardens where space is limited.

Bringing the Tropics Home

Whether your garden faces the Gulf or your window faces the snow, these trees let you live in color year-round. Plant them outdoors in warm zones or grow them in pots indoors — they adapt, they bloom, they brighten every corner.

Gardening isn’t about waiting for spring — it’s about finding joy in every season. And when a tree blooms in January, that joy feels twice as sweet.

🛒 Shop Winter Flowering Plants

✍️ Winter Bloomer Q&A

Q: Can these trees really bloom indoors?

Yes! Smaller species like Bottlebrush ‘Little John,’ Dwarf Tabebuias, and many Bauhinias bloom beautifully in pots with bright light or grow lamps.

Q: Do they lose their leaves in winter?

Some, like Tabebuias and Jacarandas, drop leaves right before blooming — it’s normal and part of their charm. Others, like Bottlebrush, stay evergreen.

Q: What fertilizer works best?

We use Sunshine Boosters — gentle, balanced, and perfect for tropicals. Feed every 2–3 weeks during active growth.

Q: How do I know when to water?

Touch the soil! If it’s dry an inch or two down, water deeply. Overwatering is the main mistake with tropicals.

Q: Can they handle frost?

A quick dip into the upper 20s F is fine for most mature trees. Cover young ones or move containers under shelter if colder.

Q: Which are best for beginners?

Start with Bottlebrush ‘Little John’ or Golden Tabebuia — compact, colorful, and nearly foolproof.

Q: When will they bloom?

Usually within few years if they get enough sun and warmth. Grafted plants blooms much sooner

Q: Which of these trees are best for pot growing?

For patios, balconies, or indoor sunrooms, choose the compact or grafted types:

• Tabebuia chrysotricha, Dwarf Golden Tabebuia, bright and easy.
• Tabebuia impetiginosa, Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, hardy and long-blooming.
• Callistemon ‘Little John’ – stays neat and flowers all year.
• Grafted Bauhinia blakeana – blooms while young, perfect for pots.

🎥 Watch videos of Dwarf trees in bloom:

Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Dwarf Pink Tabebuia

🛒 Shop Winter Flowering Plants