PlantFiles: Variegated Orchid Tree
Bauhinia variegata

DawnRain may not find seedlings in their part of Florida, but I have frequently found them in South Florida hammocks. It is listed as a category I invasive for a reason--because it has already negatively impacted our environment.

It is a beautiful tree, but any Floridian can buy the sterile Hong Kong species (which is similar and just as beautiful) instead. I have one, for I have my cake and eat it, too.

To those outside of Florida, ignore what I'm saying unless it's also invasive in your area!

Variegated Orchid Tree Bauhinia variegata is Naturalized in Texas and other States.

Seemingly impossible to kill. Mine have been mowed over and after I left Florida never watered by a person. They didnt grow big with all the neglect but are here in tennessee now, no worse for the wear- and growing fast.
I am planning to use them in a japanese inspired garden.
I was born and raised in northern Florida and have never seen one growing in the wild. This doesnt mean they arent invasive in the southern and central parts though!

When I bought my home three years ago I hired a guy from our local nursery to help with the garden. I was going to pull what looked like a random plant and he said "oh no" that's a Japanese Orchid Tree. So we staked it and it is now a gorgeous bushy tree about eight feet tall. It has beautiful light purple/pink blooms off and on throughout the year. We have a lot of deer in our yard and they leave the blooms alone. I give it no special care other than regular watering with the sprinkler. It is in full sun. I highly recommend this gorgeous tree (mine is more like a big bush).

Winter Haven had the most beautiful planting of these trees on the edge of a lake going into the city. When they widened the road they destroyed all of the trees and thus the most attractive part of the city outside of Cypress Gardens and that is to their shame.
I have never seen an orchid tree growing in a Florida forest. I am not in favor of the white list because many of the plants on it should not be there. Some, yes, but this is another I disagree on. And I don't think the seeds are carried by birds. The beauty of the tree attracts people and they carry the seeds to their yards. Seedlings do come up under the trees, but only there. Mine have never seeded farther than 10ft from the tree. Unwanted seedlings are easily pulled or mowed. I dearly love this beauty.

Listed as Category I of most invasive plants by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Do not plant if living in Florida.

Catagory I invasive within it's hardy range in florida. Not to be confused with the very common Bauhinia chinensis (but that could be invasive too for all I know). Birds will carry seed into natural areas and that's where the problem will be realized... not from seedlings in your yard.

We have been growing this tree for several years now [ approx 4] in our zone 10 California...the tree performs very well here, it has grown very tall, [ quite rapidly] I do believe perhaps 4 - 6 ft when we purchased it..now possibly 15 feet, it does take some drought, and flowers on and off during the year [ flowering again right now in September] it starts flowering without the leaves first..I am sure it would do even better with more water and fertilizer..we have not done any fertilizing as yet.. It seems to respond to neglect only because of health reasons I have not been able to give it the attention it deserves......

I just planted a 6 ft tree about a month ago. It lost all its leaves entirely and got hit was a typhoon about a week after that. I had nearly given up and noticed small buds growing so now the tree is fully leafed and looking good. Can't wait until it blooms.

We collected seed from our neighbors very large tree and planted them in containers as soon as they were dry. We now have six 12 to 15 inch tall young Orchid trees. We have prepared raised beds in which to plant the young plants next spring. We intend to try for an Orchid forest for our west view.

they are grown in Southern Calif as a Japanese Garden tree. the branches are trained to grow horizontal at about 8 to 10 ft high & kept pruned so the orchids can be enjoyed
but the variegata flower is an ever-changing color. white during the warm months to dark purple during the colder months

They are widely planted along freeways and parks in Hong Kong. Hong Kong picked Bauhinia blakeana as its emblem; Hong Kong dollar coin has Bauhinia on it. Besides white flower variety, there are also other colors like purple and pink.

It seems it is a quick grower and is supposed to give white flowers and in profusion in 2-3 years. Medium size tree. My friend gave this seedling a couple of weeks ago. March 2003.

I have several of these single-trunk specimens reaching 20-25' in a sheltered, shady location in Key West. They are very drought resistant, but as soon as it rains in the spring, they leaf out and flower mightily. Key West receives sporadic rain at best this time of year, and the blossoms last one-two days and fall off. This is a huge mess in an enclosed space. Please plant these in an open exposure, or as specimens in a border so that you do not have to remove entire garbage barrels of detritus daily.

I planted a 2.5 foot tall tree in the front yard in central Florida in January. It is now approximately 5' tall now with lots of green foliage but no flowers. Pinch back tips to promote bushy growth and remove leaves which turn brown.

This plant can be grown as a shrub tree with many stems or select the thickest and grow as a single trunk tree. I water and fertilize when I water the lawn. Grows wild almost everywhere in central Florida and is listed as an invasive plant. Have seen lots of trees over 30+ feet tall with purple flowers.