Life Span
Perennial
  
Biennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
  
Types
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
  
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert
  
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-15
  
9-13
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-9
  
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Tan
  
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Green, Sandy Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
  
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Not Available
  
Butterfly shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Spring
  
Early Spring, Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
  
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Average Water
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Once a week
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
No pruning needed in the early stages
  
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
  
Apply N-P-K
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Flies, Insects
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Dry Mouth
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for insects
  
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Weight loss
  
Carminative, Laxative
  
Part of Plant Used
Stem
  
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Hoodia gordonii
  
BAUHINIA purpurea
  
Common Name
ǁhoba, Ghaap
  
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
  
In Hindi
Hoodia
  
Butterfly tree
  
In German
Hoodia
  
Schmetterlings- Baum
  
In French
Hoodia
  
arbre de papillon
  
In Spanish
Hoodia
  
árbol de la mariposa
  
In Greek
Hoodia
  
δέντρο πεταλούδα
  
In Portuguese
Hoodia
  
árvore borboleta
  
In Polish
Hoodia
  
drzewo Butterfly
  
In Latin
Hoodia
  
Gloria ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Gentianales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Apocynaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Hoodia
  
Bauhinia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Stapeliae
  
Cercideae
  
Subfamily
Asclepiadoideae
  
Caesalpinioideae