Family: Fabaceae
Common name: Pink bauhinia, Orchid tree, Butterfly flower, Pink orchid tree, St. Thomas tree, Napoleon’s plume, Butterfly Bauhinia, Mariposa, Jerusalem date
Pink Bauhinia is a very beautiful, fast-growing, small tree that can fill your garden with colors and butterflies, popular for their lovely pink flowers. They are native to South America and can grow well in tropical countries.
Plant Characteristics
Pink Bauhinias can grow to a height of 8-12 meters with an erect, well-branched stem that can have a girth of about 30-50 cm. The bark is greyish-brown in color, developing fissures and dark spots with age. Younger stems are smooth and hairless.
Leaves of the Pink Bauhinia tree are very beautiful, bilobed with rounded lobes like a heart or a butterfly. These ornamental leaves keep the tree fascinating even when it is not flowering.
Leaves are about 15-20 cm long and 10-15 cm wide with a deep cleft in the center, which is very typical of the leaves in Bauhinia species of trees.
The surface of the leaves is smooth and glossy, with a rich green color. They are arranged alternately on the stem, and has a smooth outer margin.
Flowers of the Pink Bauhinia are showy and stunning, typically light purple with a white center, creating a lovely contrast of colors.
Each flower has 5 petals, the upper one different from the other four petals in size and color. Each flower has a single curved stamen, giving the tree its name ‘monandra’. Flowers bloom in clusters during spring and summer, attracting small birds, butterflies, bees, and insects to the garden.
Since Pink Bauhinia trees belong to the Fabaceae family, they produce long seedpods that are typical of plants in the beans and peas family of Fabaceae.
Fruits are flat, elongated pods that are about 10-15 cm long, initially green, turning dark brown as they mature. These seed pods contain multiple seeds that are flattened and oval in shape.
After they mature, the fruits of Pink Bauhinia split open along the middle to release the seeds.
Gardening Tips
Pink Bauhinia plants need bright sunlight to grow and flower well. They can tolerate poor soil conditions, but these trees do well in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Watering is needed during summer months and also when the trees are small.
Once the trees are established in the soil, they do not need much care and attention. They will continue to thrive in a corner of your garden, flowering and fruiting in season.
The flowering season is relatively long from April-May to October-November, filling your garden with color and vibrancy.
Since the Pink Bauhinias flower well, they need nutrition. It is advisable to fertilize the plant once in 3-4 months, especially before the flowering season with compost or other organic manure. Pruning can be done to keep the tree bushy and well-rounded.
Pink Bauhinia plants are closely related to Bauhinia purpurea or Purple Bauhinia, and Bauhinia acuminata or Dwarf White Bauhinia
Uses of Pink Bauhinia trees
Though these trees are mostly grown as ornamentals for their beautiful flowers, they also have other uses. The young leaves and seedpods can be cooked and eaten. They have some toxicity, and hence should be eaten only with expert advise.
Pink Bauhinia seedpods are used to treat indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery and other stomach ailments. Parts of the tree are used in the treatment of leprosy, small pox, diabetes, eye diseases, skin irritations, and wounds.
These trees are used as fences or border plants since their long stems can be woven together to create an impenetrable screen.
Seedpods and seeds are used for making black and blue dyes. Fibers obtained from the bark are used for making cordage. Wood is quite hard, and is usually burnt as fuel.
Like most plants in the Fabaceae family, the roots of Pink Bauhinia contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that can convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and nitrites that can be absorbed by the other plants, thus improving soil quality.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Seeds have to be treated with hot water, and possible even nicked, to encourage germination. Once treated, these seeds germinate well and produce trees that can bloom in 3-4 years.
Semi-hardwood cuttings, about 10-15 cm long can be planted in moist, well-drained soil after dipping in a rooting hormone. They usually take root in 4-6 weeks.
Photographed at: Olde Bangalore resort
