Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Sedge or Rush
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southern Europe, United Kingdom, Northern Africa
  
Hybrid origin, Southeastern Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Grassland, Humid climates, Riverbanks, Wet forest
  
tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Orbiculate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
  
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Insects
  
Bees, Birds
  
Allergy
Asthma, Skin irritation
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Digestion problems, Fever
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Food for insects, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Edging, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
ISOLEPIS cernua
  
BAUHINIA blakeana
  
Common Name
Low Bulrush
Slender Clubrush
  
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  
In Hindi
फाइबर ऑप्टिक घास
  
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
  
In German
Lichtwellenleiter-Gras
  
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
  
In French
Fibre optique Herbe
  
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
  
In Spanish
Hierba de fibra óptica
  
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
  
In Greek
Οπτικών Ινών Grass
  
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
  
In Portuguese
Fibra Óptica Relva
  
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
  
In Polish
Światłowody Trawa
  
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
  
In Latin
Fiber opticus Grass
  
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Cyperaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Isolepis
  
Bauhinia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Pooideae
  
Caesalpinioideae