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Hong Kong Orchid Tree and River Birch


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Tree  
Tree  

Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States  
Southeastern Asia  

Types
not available  
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.  

Number of Varieties
Not Available  
2  
99+

Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps  
tropical environments  

USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9  
10-15  

AHS Heat Zone
9-1  
12-10  

Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 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
Oval or Rounded  
Oval or Rounded  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm  
33
460.00 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm  
14
460.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Yellow, Brown  
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Black  
Not Available  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green  
Green, Blue Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green  
Green, Blue Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan  
Green, Blue Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available  
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges  
Orbiculate  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Growth Rate
Fast  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Spring  
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
Yes  

Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground  
Ground  

How to Plant?
Seedlings  
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering  
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
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Average  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun  

Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year  
Less fertilizing  

Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae  
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites  

Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Not Available  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
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
Yes  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
Matte  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
No  

Self-Sowing
No  
No  

Attracts
Not Available  
Bees, Birds  

Allergy
Asthma  
Not Available  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes  
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes  

Beauty Benefits
Not Available  
Not Available  

Edible Uses
No  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
Not Available  
Not Available  

Part of Plant Used
Whole plant  
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds  

Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture  
Food for insects, Used As Food  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
BETULA nigra  
BAUHINIA blakeana  

Common Name
River Birch  
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree  

In Hindi
River Birch  
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़  

In German
Fluss Birch  
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum  

In French
Birch river  
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée  

In Spanish
river Birch  
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong  

In Greek
ποταμός Birch  
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ  

In Portuguese
river Birch  
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong  

In Polish
Rzeka Birch  
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong  

In Latin
Betula  
Hong Kong Orchid ligno  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Angiosperms  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Magnoliopsida  

Order
Fagales  
Fabales  

Family
Betulaceae  
Fabaceae  

Genus
Betula  
Bauhinia  

Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids  

Tribe
Not Available  
Not Available  

Subfamily
Not Available  
Caesalpinioideae  

Number of Species
Not Available  
7  
99+

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