Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Tree
  
Origin
Mediterranean, Northern Africa
  
Hybrid origin, Southeastern Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
marshes, Riverbanks
  
tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 6
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Purple, Silver
  
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Purple
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Gray Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Tan
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Tan
  
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Orbiculate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Fall
  
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative
  
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water once every two or three weeks
  
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
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Cut back all stems to the same height
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
0-10-10 NPK fertilizer
  
Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Drought, Edema
  
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
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Bees, Birds
  
Allergy
Noxious Weed
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Cultivated for fodder
  
Food for insects, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
SACCHARUM ravennae
  
BAUHINIA blakeana
  
Common Name
Hardy Pampas Grass, Plume Grass, Ravennagrass
  
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  
In Hindi
Plume Grass
  
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
  
In German
Plume Gras
  
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
  
In French
Plume Herbe
  
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
  
In Spanish
Penacho de hierba
  
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
  
In Greek
Plume Grass
  
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
  
In Portuguese
Plume grama
  
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
  
In Polish
Pióropusz Trawa
  
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
  
In Latin
Kessinger Grass
  
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Lilopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Saccharum
  
Bauhinia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Andropogoneae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Caesalpinioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available