Orchid Tree
Bauhinia variegata
Plant Family: Leguminosae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, two lobed, to 15 cm, the apices are deeply notched, resulting in a very distinctive shape.
Bark: Gray and smooth on younger trees, rougher on older trees.
Flowers: Large, fragrant, red-purple, with five petals, incredibly showy, some cultivars are white; late winter to spring.
Fruits: A flat pod, to 20 cm long; summer to fall.
Habitat: Orchid Tree will typically be found in plantings in town and city parks and on private land, but it has spread to the wild and is invasive in south Florida in hammock margins and pine rocklands.
Growth Form: Small to medium-sized tree.
Key Features: The combination of showy flowers and the unusual leaf shape will distinguish the Bauhinia species from all other south Florida trees.
Comments: Orchid Tree is native to Southeast Asia; it is the most common of a few similar Bauhinia species that are grown in south Florida.
