How to grow Bauhinia Purpurea

 

How to grow Bauhinia Purpurea

Purple Bauhinia is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family and the scientific name of this plant is Bauhinia purpurea.  Also known as butterfly tree, orchid tree, or camel's foot tree, it is a flowering plant native to Southeast Asia, particularly India and China. Bauhinia includes many species, but the most popular is Bauhinia purpurea. Other notable species are Bauhinia variegata or Mountain Ebony, Bauhinia Blakean or Hong Kong Orchid, Bauhinia tomentosa or Yellow Bauhinia, and Bauhinia acuminatea or Dwarf White Bauhinia. It grows in tropical and subtropical climates. This plant prefers warm temperatures but cannot tolerate frost.

Grows best in well-drained, loamy to sandy soils with neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels. Soak the seeds overnight in water to germinate the seeds. Then plant them in moist soil. It can also be propagated using hardwood cuttings. Choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight, with enough space to grow twenty to forty feet tall.  Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and plant the seedlings in it. After such planting, it should be well watered. Requiring moderate watering thereafter, this plant is drought tolerant. Similarly, during the growing season, give a balanced fertilizer such as NPK 10 10 10. Prune out any charred or damaged branches to maintain plant shape and promote growth. Treat with appropriate insecticides or fungicides as needed to combat problems such as aphids, scale insects, or fungal infections.

Act as a nitrogen fixer and thus increases soil fertility. It also provides good shade and reduces the heat of the sun. Purple bauhinia blooms from late summer to early winter, producing fragrant, violet to magenta flowers that resemble orchids. The flowers are followed by flat, thick-shelled seed pods. The bauhinia flower is featured on Hong Kong's flag as a symbol of harmony and unity. It has a special place in Southeast Asian traditions and festivals. By cultivating purple bauhinia, gardeners can enhance the scenery of their farm and enjoy its impressive beauty, ecological benefits, and versatile uses.

This plant is widely planted in gardens, parks and streets, for its aesthetic appeal. As such, its flowers attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds. In traditional medicine, parts of the plant are used to treat various ailments: its bark is said to have anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory properties. Similarly, the leaves are used to heal wounds. Another is that its flowers are believed to aid digestion. In some countries, its young buds and flowers are edible and used in salads or as a vegetable. It acts as a nitrogen fixer, thereby increasing soil fertility. It also provides good shade and reduces the heat of the sun. From late summer to early winter, purple bauhinia blooms, producing fragrant, violet to magenta flowers that resemble orchids. The flowers are followed by flat, thick-shelled pods. The bauhinia flower is featured on Hong Kong's flag as a symbol of harmony and unity. It has a special place in Southeast Asian traditions and festivals. By cultivating purple bauhinia, gardeners can enhance the scenery of their farm and enjoy its impressive beauty, ecological benefits and versatile uses.