Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Tree
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Number of Varieties
-20
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-3
12-9
Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm17.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Orange Red
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong to ablanceolate
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrate based fertilizers
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Beetles
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
-
Beauty Benefits
Hair Conditioner, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cardiac, Diuretic, Refrigerant, Tonic
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
It is a remedy for treating fevers, Used in making tea, Used in treatment of mouth ulcers
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
OXYDENDRUM arboreum
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
Sourwood
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
Sourwood
Butterfly tree
In German
Sourwood
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
Sourwood
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
Sourwood
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
Sourwood
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
Sourwood
árvore borboleta
In Polish
Sourwood
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
Sourwood
Gloria ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Fabales
Family
Ericaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Oxydendrum
Bauhinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Oxydendreae
Cercideae
Subfamily
Vaccinioideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
1500
1
27800
👆🏻