Botanical Name: Bauhinia variegata (Bauhinia purpurea)
Common Name: Purple orchid tree Type of Plant: dicot: tree Character deciduous Habit of Growth: Overall Shape an upright to irregularly spreading multitrunked tree with an open rounded canopy; older plants tend to have a full canopy which is somewhat umbrella-shaped; young plants are often trained into single-trunked trees Height 15'-30'(40') Spread 2/3-equal Growth Rate rapid Environment: Exposure full or partial sun preferred; avoid heavy shade for best flowering Soil a moist loamy soil is preferred; can tolerate most except highly alkaline Hardiness some frost (zones 13, 18-23); thrives in warm areas near the coast Morphology: Leaves palmate, alternate, conspicuously bi-lobed with 9 - 13 veins spreading from the base of blade; 3"-5" wide and as long, light bluish green, leathery Flowers pinkish lavender to orchid or purple, very showy, with an orchid-like shape, fragrant, 2-3" wide; in axillary clusters; mostly late spring - summer Fruit a pod: large (4-10" long), dark brown, not constricted between the seeds Propagation: by seed (germinate easily) Usage: a very conspicuous accent tree, prized for its spectacular flower display flower display and attractive foliage; widely used as a lawn or street tree; primarily for tropical - subtropical landscape styles; is very messy Landscape Care: Watering regular is preferred – can tolerate heavy watering; the plant is somewhat drought-tolerant after established in mild climate coastal areas Fertilizing feed with a balanced fertilizer afterpeak blooming period Pruning young plants usually require staking and heading high; thin as needed Pests/Diseases relatively free; check for whitefly and mealybug in shaded sites Special Conditions/Other can be invasive from seed; the most widely used Bauhinia Origin: subtropical regions of southern China Family: Fabaceae Notes: |
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