What is
Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Madagascar
Types
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
28
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
tropical environments
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
Not Available
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Information
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm90.00 cm
0.54
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm30.00 cm
0.1
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Orbiculate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Season
Plant Season
Spring, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Drought
Care
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Drought
Facts
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Not Available
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Benefits
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used As Food
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Scientific Name
Botanical Name
BAUHINIA blakeana
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
Devil's Backbone
In German
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
Devil's Backbone
In French
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
Narum diaboli
Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Malpighiales
Family
Fabaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Bauhinia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Caesalpinioideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
72000
1
27800
👆🏻