Plant Profile

Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Blake's Butterfly Tree)

Hong Kong Orchid Tree is a small, broad tree with large, blue-green leaves and orchid-like blooms in multiple shades. This species is sterile and so does not produce fruit. It does well in hot and dry climates.

They tend to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, and the wood is weak and susceptible to breakage, but otherwise are very desirable in the urban landscape.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Alan Mak (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Miwasatoshi (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Pronunciation: bah-HIN-ee-uh blay-kee-AY-nuh
Plant type: Tree
Origin: Hybrid Origin, Hong Kong
Heat Zones: 10 to 16

Hardiness Zones: 10 to 13
Uses: Screen, Hedge, Specimen, Border Plant, Container, Shade, Windbreak, Wildlife, Street, Pollution Tolerant / Urban, Reclamation
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Fast

Tree Shape: Round, oval, Vase

Canopy Symmetry: Irregular

Canopy Density: Medium

Canopy Texture: Coarse

Height at Maturity: 5 to 8 m, 8 to 15 m

Spread at Maturity: 5 to 8 meters

Time to Ultimate Height: 10 to 20 Years

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Alan Mak (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Miwasatoshi (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Arrangement : Alternate

Leaf Venation: Palmate

Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

Leaf Type: Simple

Leaf Blade: 10 - 20

Leaf Shape: Orbiculate

Leaf Margins: Lobate, Cleft

Leaf Texture: Medium

Leaf Scent: No Fragance

Color(growing season): Green, Blue-Green

Color(changing season): Green
Flower

Flower Showiness: Yes

Flower Size Range: 10 - 20

Flower Type: Solitary

Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: Red, Purple, Pink

Seasons: Summer, Fall, Winter
Trunk

Trunk has Crownshaft: No

Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Suspected to breakage

Number of Trunks: Multi-Trunked, Can be trained to one trunk

Trunk esthetic Values: Not Showy, Smooth
Fruit

Seasons: Summer, Fall, Winter

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Alan Mak (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Miwasatoshi (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I, J.M.Garg [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: No

Heat Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Yes

Salt Tolerance: Moderate
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral

Water Requirements: Moderate

Light Requirements: Full, Part, Shade
Management

Toxicity: No

Invasive Potential: No

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

Pruning Requirements: Needed, to develop a strong structure

Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: Yes

Surface Rooting: No

Life Span: 25-50 years

Diseases: Leaf Spots, Physiological

Edible Parts: None

Pests: Mites, Caterpillars, Borers

Plant Propagation: Cutting, Layering