Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Perennial
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
9-13
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Butterfly shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
-
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Root
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
African Iris
Butterfly tree
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
African Iris
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
Iris africano
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
Iris africano
árvore borboleta
In Polish
Afryki Iris
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
African Iris
Gloria ligno
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Fabales
Family
Iridaceae
Fabaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Caesalpinioideae
Importance of African Iris and Butterfly Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Butterfly Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Butterfly Tree as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is whereas of Butterfly Tree is Carminative and Laxative. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Butterfly Tree has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Butterfly Tree
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Butterfly Tree and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Butterfly Tree have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Butterfly Tree has no showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Butterfly Tree is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Butterfly Tree facts and facts of other plants too.