Orchid Tree. Bauhinia variegata Fabaceae Family ( Pea ) Orchid Tree. Also called: Purple Orchid Tree, Mountain Ebony, Poor Man's Orchid, Napoleon's Hat, Vlinderbloem, Butterfly Flower, Variegated Orchid Tree . We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Bauhinia variegata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southeastern Asia, from southern China west to Pakistan and India. Common names include Orchid tree, Camel's Foot Tree, & Mountain Ebony. It is called Kachnar(Hindi), (Punjabi), (Urdu) or Kanchan(Bengali) in India Orchid Treeis a fast growing deciduous tree to semi-evergreen tree, to 40 feet tall. It has grey - green 2-lobed heart shaped large leaves, with 11 to 13 veins. It is blooming during late winter or early spring. The flowers often make their first appearance in late winter while the tree is bare of leaves. Its spreading crown is made of briefly deciduous leaves which are 4 - 6 inches across with rounded, 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 look like orchids, with five irregular, usually slightly overlapping petals in shades of magenta, lavender or purplish blue. Their blooming period lasts until early summer. The flowers are 3 - 5 inches across in clusters at the branch tips. Later on it produces flattened brown woody pods up to 12 inches long. There are more than 200 species in the genus Bauhinia. Orchid trees do best in acidic soil. Susceptible to iron chlorosis. Considered invasive in Florida. Quick Notes: Height: 20 To 40 feet tall. Has a 20 - 30 foot spread. In Phoenix, the trees usually are small. Flowers: The flowers are conspicuous, bright pink or white, 4.5 to 8 inches in diameter, with five petals. Flowering Time: Early January - March or April and intermittently through summer. Leaves: Green deciduous leaves which are 4 - 6 inches across with rounded, lobed ends, and heart shaped bases. The cleft leaves resembe an animal hoof. Trunk: 3 to 8 inches in diameter. Bark: Grayish - brown, thin, smooth. Seed Pod: Seedpods 12" long, 1/2" - 1" wide; brown; maturing in summer, bursting open; many elliptical flattened shiny brown; seeds. Found: Native to southeastern Asia, from southern China west to Pakistan and India. But, according to the USDA it is now native to the USA (CA, FL, LA, TX), USA+ (PR). Hardiness: USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Shade Elevation: Can be found growing from 0 - 2,000 Feet. Habitat: Ornamental in lower elevations of Arizona. In India it is found in roadside ditches and disturbed areas. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken January 26, 2006 in North Central Phoenix, Arizona.

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