Bauhinia forficata

[Eric in Orlando]

Our Bauhinia forficata, Thorny Orchid Tree, are in full bloom now. The flowers look best with some shade as they usually turn yellow and wilt by afternoon.

[Really full garden]

Eric,I grew this one in Houston Tx. and it was very hardy to the low 20s.Mine never had as many flowers as yours though.A really nice shrub or small tree.

[LJG]

The flowers fade in shade too here in SoCal. They open at night (with scent) then die off by mid afternoon. This is a good cold hardy Bauhinia.

[_Keith]

Eric,

Is this the same tree? I thought I had ID'd it, but as something else. It sure looks like the one in your post and it sure is thorny. It has gotten me more than once. Also, it suckers quite readily.

Here are the pictures of mine.

Thanks,

Keith

[LJG]

Yep. Same tree Keith. What did you think it was called?

Depending on what time of day you take the pictures, the flowers can look different. It does sucker easily and it self seeds pretty easily. Other then maybe Bauhinia corymbosa, is there a hardier Bauhinia around?

[_Keith]

Yep. Same tree Keith. What did you think it was called?

Depending on what time of day you take the pictures, the flowers can look different. It does sucker easily and it self seeds pretty easily. Other then maybe Bauhinia corymbosa, is there a hardier Bauhinia around?

Previously, I thought it was Bauhinia congesta, but when I saw Eric's pictures I knew I was wrong and that was the correct ID.

[simona]

Other then maybe Bauhinia corymbosa, is there a hardier Bauhinia around?

This one does not have thorns & it does not sucker. No idea of it's name, might be 'Alba' - it's doing excellent here in 9a.

[Eric in Orlando]

It is Bauhinia variegata 'Candida' .

[monkeyranch]

I am planning to test some hardier Bauhinias against the cold in 9a Sierra Nevada foothills. It's a 9a but consistently colder in winter than a gulf coast 9a. I believe the shrubby B. lunarioides from the Chihuahuan desert is hardy to the high teens. What about the climbing B. galpinii from S. africa? Also with hardiness claims are B. semla (Himalayas), B. fortificata (S. Africa), B. malabarica (Kashmir to Sikkim), B. yunnanensis, B. fassoglensis (E.Africa), and B. macranthera (also Chihuahuan). Feel free to elaborate on these species or any others.

[mnorell]

That is a beautiful tree, Eric. I've been trying to get ahold of one of these for a few years now with no luck...does anyone know a mail-order source for 1-5gal sizes on this species? Or even a seed vendor?

monkeyranch: I'm sure the Mexican and Texan Bauhinias will do fine for you. Dallas growers consistently report that it does fine down to the upper teens there and resprouts to flower the same year after horrible freezes. I grow the African B. galpinii and while the foliage is intolerant of frost or freezing temps below 27F, and stems die back in a hard low-20s freeze, it returns from the mulch-line in low 20s and I presume even lower. Since it's a summer/fall bloomer and blooms on new growth, it's a winner for frosty climates with heat. It does very well here for me.

You may also want to try B. bohniana, a vining plant that supposedly becomes a tree once it climbs up above surrounding canopy. Mine is twining through crepe-myrtle trees and still seems very much like a vine, but surprisingly is holding all its foliage despite several lengthy (if not really hard) freezes, the worst being 27F so far this year. Meanwhile galpinii is defoliated nearby. The Bauhinias seem to be able to resprout from the roots if mulched, but good luck getting any flowers on B. x Blakeana or B. variegata in this way...Eric has mentioned previously that after severe freezes in Orlando these species (and even the fall-flowering B. purpurea) usually returned but took two seasons to flower. So that would rule out anything other than an interesting foliage plant for zone 9a (and that's my experience for the last two years with these two species). I think you'll find that most of the vining types that are summer and fall bloomers will survive for you. Perhaps Eric has some more experience with the other species you mention...

[fastfeat]

Monkeyranch--

I basically concur with what Michael said. I'd forget about B. malabarica, which I think has been lumped with B. purpurea. Not really happy in mild Mediterranean climates, has little cold tolerance anyway.

I've seen B. forficata in Bakersfield, Fresno areas occasionally, so it's worth a shot.

B. variegata takes some cold as it matures, but flower buds typically form late winter/early spring, so easy to get caught in late frosts. Probably likely to be disappointing.

Michael--

Check with Leon at XOTX Tropico in West Hollywood (CA) 323.654.9999. He has lots of rare plants in small sizes and may be able to ship (??) He should have it. I may have some seed in my 'fridge from CA. If I can find any, I'll send you a PM.

[mnorell]

Fastfeat--

I may call Leon, though I was just there a few months ago and didn't see any (though of course that means nothing, it's kind of a jumble of plants there to be sure)...I think it's probably not tender enough for him to carry it, LOL! I really don't remember seeing it planted (maybe one at the L.A. Arboretum I think) or offered for sale in SoCal, though of course it's mentioned in many books. It seems B. v. 'candida' is the main white-flowered Bauhinia grown there (and of course even that's rare there). I'd certainly love some seed if you can find any, I'd be more than happy to pay you for it.

[LJG]

My tree seeds every year, I will send you some in late summer if you do not already have some.

Fastfeat--

I may call Leon, though I was just there a few months ago and didn't see any (though of course that means nothing, it's kind of a jumble of plants there to be sure)...I think it's probably not tender enough for him to carry it, LOL! I really don't remember seeing it planted (maybe one at the L.A. Arboretum I think) or offered for sale in SoCal, though of course it's mentioned in many books. It seems B. v. 'candida' is the main white-flowered Bauhinia grown there (and of course even that's rare there). I'd certainly love some seed if you can find any, I'd be more than happy to pay you for it.

[mnorell]

Thanks, Len. I'll certainly let you know!

[Eric in Orlando]

The 3 common tree species around here are B. purpurea, B. variegata (and the white cultivar 'Candida) and B. x blakeana. They were seriously injured and froze to the ground in the 12/89 freeze (19-20F). Usually they start to show damage around 24-25F though younger trees especially B. x blakeana are more tender. The trees that froze down in 12/89 came back from the roots but it took them 2-3 years before they flowered again.

You mentioned B. macranthera and B. lunaroides. A couple other hardier Mexican species are B. bartlettii and B. mexicana. I think B. mexicana has been lumped into B. divaricata now. B. divaricata is a wipespread species. According to GRIN it is native;

Northern Mexico: Mexico - San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas

Central Mexico: Mexico - Colima, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Veracruz

Mesoamerica: Belize; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico - Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Yucatan; Nicaragua

Caribbean: Cuba; Dominican Republic; St. Kitts and Nevis

Some of the B. divaricata in cultivation is tender below 26-27F so if you could get seed from more northerly Mexican locations, you would have better luck.

B. bartlettii

B. mexicana

[fastfeat]

Monkeyranch--

I have seen B. mexicana in San Antonio and Austin, so I would say it definitely has a chance.

[palmmermaid]

While they are very pretty, all the Bauhinias in my experience blow down in hurricanes. I had a large on in my yard (here when we bought the house) and it blew down in the first storm. I cut it up and threw it out.

[DoomsDave]

It is Bauhinia variegata 'Candida' .

Simona, I agree, and it rocks!

THere's one down the street, just a was from the 7-11 . . . . .

Ahem.

It's as floriferous as the one you picture, glorious, pure as the driven snow, though I'm not sure how driven or by whom . . . .

[monkeyranch]

Very nice feedback everyone. Thank you. I often compare potential plants for my location to what's succeeding in Zone 9a/8b Texas and Gulf coast. I'll also try anything making it in Tuscon and Central Valley CA. Mandarins and Meyers do great here. Navels and Grapefruits overwinter 3 of 5 years. Schinus molle, Brachychiton populneus, Camphora, Tecomaria, Grewia, Abutilon, and Podranea good too. Queens OK for now. Still trying to get Distictis to "stick". Thanks for the plant sources too. Good luck all. I'll post updates after some cold winters.

[Matt N- Dallas]

I love the bauhinia family. I am growing the following here in Dallas, TX: forficata, lunaroides, galpinii, yunnanensis and mexicana. The forficata does not die back most years and flowers more each year. Galpinii is the most tender for me and dies back to the ground, but regrows vigorously and produces beautiful blooms. Mexicana is a butterfly magnet.

[fastfeat]

I love the bauhinia family. I am growing the following here in Dallas, TX: forficata, lunaroides, galpinii, yunnanensis and mexicana. The forficata does not die back most years and flowers more each year. Galpinii is the most tender for me and dies back to the ground, but regrows vigorously and produces beautiful blooms. Mexicana is a butterfly magnet.

B. forficata, B. mexicana in Dallas? Awesome! Thanks for the input.

[_Keith]

Fastfeat--

I may call Leon, though I was just there a few months ago and didn't see any (though of course that means nothing, it's kind of a jumble of plants there to be sure)...I think it's probably not tender enough for him to carry it, LOL! I really don't remember seeing it planted (maybe one at the L.A. Arboretum I think) or offered for sale in SoCal, though of course it's mentioned in many books. It seems B. v. 'candida' is the main white-flowered Bauhinia grown there (and of course even that's rare there). I'd certainly love some seed if you can find any, I'd be more than happy to pay you for it.

Mine seeds like crazy, and makes runners like crazy. You are welcome to either.

[Swolte]

@Matt N- Dallas Apologies for reviving such an old thread. I was reading up on hardiness of various bauhinias. I was wondering if your Forficata was still alive after the weather extremes the past few years. I just got a small seedling and I am curious as to how it would do here long term. I am also trying a Macranthera.

For what its worth, I have positive experiences with the Lunaroides and Galpinii (don't have the yunnanensis!). The Lunaroides survived Uri here unprotected with little dieback. I did throw some leaves over the Galpinii just in case and it has reliably returned the past 3 years. Not much experience with the Mexicana yet myself but I have a friend in the area whose been growing them successfully for years. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Swolte

[Matt N- Dallas]

I have numerous B. forficata plants growing unprotected in San Marcos, TX and Dallas.  They froze back to the ground from the Feb, ‘21 cold blast but quickly grew out and bloomed in 2021 and since.  They continue to thrive.  

[Swolte]

50 minutes ago, Matt N- Dallas said:

I have numerous B. forficata plants growing unprotected in San Marcos, TX and Dallas.  They froze back to the ground from the Feb, ‘21 cold blast but quickly grew out and bloomed in 2021 and since.  They continue to thrive.  

Thanks, impressive!! Do you notice a difference in performance depending on light availability?