Bauhinia Flower Plant – Description
Botanical Name: Bauhinia spp.
Common Names: Orchid Tree, Kachnar (Hindi), Mountain Ebony, Camel’s Foot Tree
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Native To: Southeast Asia, tropical and subtropical regions

🌸 General Description:
Bauhinia is a genus of flowering plants known for their beautiful, orchid-like blossoms and distinctive bilobed leaves (resembling a camel’s hoof or butterfly wings). These deciduous or semi-evergreen trees/shrubs are popular in ornamental landscaping and traditional medicine.

🌿 Botanical Features:
Height: 4 to 12 meters (depending on species and growing conditions)

Leaves: Large, bilobed (split into two rounded lobes), 10–15 cm long

Flowers:

Color: Shades of pink, purple, white, or magenta

Shape: Five-petaled, orchid-like, mildly fragrant

Blooming Season: Late winter to early summer (varies by region/species)

Fruit: Long, flat seed pods containing hard seeds

🌱 Common Species:
Bauhinia variegata: Popular in India; pink/purple flowers; also known as Kachnar

Bauhinia blakeana: Hong Kong Orchid Tree; sterile hybrid, deep pink-purple flowers

Bauhinia purpurea: Purple-flowered, smaller leaves

🌞 Growing Conditions:
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Well-drained, loamy to sandy soil

Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

Temperature: Thrives in warm tropical to subtropical climates

🌼 Uses:
Ornamental: Widely planted in gardens, along roads, and in parks for its stunning flowers

Medicinal (traditional): Bark, leaves, and flowers used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for digestive and skin disorders

Culinary (in India): Kachnar flower buds are cooked in curries and pickles

🌳 Care Tips:
Prune after flowering to maintain shape

Fertilize during the growing season for better blooms

Protect young plants from frost

Would you like help identifying a specific Bauhinia species, or instructions for growing it from seeds or cuttings?