Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent, Ornamental Plants, Perennial
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Madagascar
Types
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
P. ambongense P. baronii P. bicolor P. bispinosum P. brevicaule P. cactipes P. decaryi P. densiflorum P. eburneum P. geayi P. gracilius
Number of Varieties
20192
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
Rocky areas, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
760.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
17.80 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy Brown
Gray Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Butterfly shaped
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
Drought Tolerant, Reduce watering in winter
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply N-P-K
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, fertilize in early summer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Dry root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
-
poisonous if ingested, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Carminative, Laxative
-
Part of Plant Used
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
-
Other Uses
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BAUHINIA purpurea
PACHYPODIUM lamerei
Common Name
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
Madagascar Palm, Club Foot
In Hindi
Butterfly tree
Madagascar palm
In German
Schmetterlings- Baum
Madagaskarpalme
In French
arbre de papillon
Pachypodium de Madagascar
In Spanish
árbol de la mariposa
Palma de Madagascar
In Greek
δέντρο πεταλούδα
Pachypodium
In Portuguese
árvore borboleta
Palmeirinha-de-madagáscar, Palmeira-de-madagáscar
In Polish
drzewo Butterfly
Pachypodium
In Latin
Gloria ligno
Mandacaru
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Fabales
Gentianales
Family
Fabaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Bauhinia
pachypodium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Cercideae
Malouetieae
Subfamily
Caesalpinioideae
Apocynoideae
Number of Species
50025
1
27800
👆🏻