Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Mexico, Caribbean
Types
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Lindheimer's muhly
Number of Varieties
2025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-134-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12 - 3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
760.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
17.80 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Tan, Brown
Shape
Leaf Shape
Butterfly shaped
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune when plant is dormant, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Apply N-P-K
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Ladybug
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ladybug beetles
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Carminative, Laxative
-
Part of Plant Used
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
BAUHINIA purpurea
MUHLENBERGIA capillaris
Common Name
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
Pink Muhly Grass
In Hindi
Butterfly tree
Muhly Grass
In German
Schmetterlings- Baum
hairawn muhly
In French
arbre de papillon
muhly herbe
In Spanish
árbol de la mariposa
muhly Grass
In Greek
δέντρο πεταλούδα
Muhly Grass
In Portuguese
árvore borboleta
muhly grama
In Polish
drzewo Butterfly
Muhly Trawa
In Latin
Gloria ligno
Muhly Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Fabales
Cyperales
Family
Fabaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Bauhinia
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Cercideae
-
Subfamily
Caesalpinioideae
-
Number of Species
50040
1
27800
👆🏻