I don't have record of its bloom period for our first 2 years in the house but my impression is that it's blooming early this year. Sunset Western Garden Book, which says that the usual bloom period is late fall until spring, appears to substantiate this impression.
The large, 5-6 inch, magenta flowers, which attract regular visits by our resident hummingbirds, are readily visible through our bedroom window. The flowers are said to be fragrant but I can detect only the slightest scent. They become paler as they age, taking on a light purple hue.
The leaves are interesting. They are bi-lobed, which gives them a butterfly-like appearance when open.
Some leaf drop accompanies the bloom period, although the tree never loses all of its leaves. Drought conditions can also cause leaf drop. Inserting a folded leaf inside a book is said to support academic achievement.
Bauhinia x blakeana is usually sterile, seldom producing the seedpods that are characteristic of its parents, B. variegata and B. purpurea. It grows 12-20 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It's adapted to USDA zones 9b-11 (Sunset zones 13, 19, 21, 23, 24 and H1-H2). It prefers full sun and can tolerate heat but it needs at least moderate water.
The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is my contribution this week to the favorite plants corralled by Loree at danger garden. See her post here for her personal favorite of the week, as well as other gardeners' contributions.
That is fabulous, so exotic! That foliage means it must be quite lovely even when not in bloom.
ReplyDeleteDrought and heat take a toll on its appearance in mid-summer but it springs back in the fall.
DeleteWhat a cool tree! Beautiful flowers and exotic leaves. I think I need one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tropical plant so I expect you'd need to keep it inside in the winter, Alison.
DeleteThat is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhen you start cutting that thing back... Be sure to attempt rooting the cuttings! I'd start by simply planting the limbs in the veggie garden... A lot of plants will grow from that treatment...
Those flowers look like alstroemerias and the leaves sorta resemble passiflora... Is it host to any butterfly species?
Ima check google... Find out whether that jewel is hardy in my area...
Whoops... Guess not... 9b... Here I am in 8a :(
It's not identified as a host plant for butterflies but the hummingbirds certainly like it. The tree is tropical in origin so I expect you'd have to haul it inside during the winter to grow it in zone 8a.
DeleteI like the foliage on that better than the Bauhinia variegata we talked about September, 2011. That was in full bloom at the time. Beautiful. Kind of forgot about it since that part of my walk has been blocked off by construction on the theater. Gee, now I miss that tree.
ReplyDeleteI still have the tree on my Annie's wish list for you, Eric.
DeleteThe flowers are absolutely stunning. The foliage is very interesting; is it possible to prune just a bit to make the plant a little fuller.
ReplyDeleteThe leaves will fill in some - there's leaf loss associated with the start of the bloom cycle - but I expect that pruning will help its overall appearance anyway.
DeleteStunning! Not just the flower but the leaves as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great tree! Thanks for visiting!
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