Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Origin
Hybrid origin, Southeastern Asia
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
tropical environments
  
Dappled Shade, meadows, Shady Edge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Orbiculate
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
Water once every two or three weeks
  
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
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove the old foliage
  
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
  
Use a fertilizer ratio of 16-4-8
  
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites
  
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees, Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Antiasthamatic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Poultice
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
  
Flowers, Stem
  
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used As Food
  
Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Used as umbrellas by Japanese children, Used as walking sticks, Used like rhubarb
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
BAUHINIA blakeana
  
PETASITES japonicus
  
Common Name
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur
  
In Hindi
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In German
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
  
Riesen Pestwurz
  
In French
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
  
géant Butterbur
  
In Spanish
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
  
gigante petasita
  
In Greek
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In Portuguese
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
  
Carrapicho gigante
  
In Polish
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
  
Giant Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
  
Giant Butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fabales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Bauhinia
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Caesalpinioideae
  
Asteroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available