Perennials, Tropicals > Bauhinia > Bauhinia madagascariensis > Bauhinia madagascariensis
Bauhinia madagascariensis
Red Butterfly Orchid Tree
Origin: Africa - southwestern and southern Madagascar.
| Family |
| Fabaceae |
| Genus |
| Bauhinia |
| Species |
| madagascariensis |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous), Shrub (deciduous) |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Height |
| 6 - 12 m |
| Spread |
| 3 - 6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A deciduous shrub or tree, usually growing up to 12 metres tall. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant prefers full sun to get the most of its flowering season, but they can be grown under partial sun. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| Habitat |
| More humid to dry, deciduous woodland and scrub. |
| Leaf Description |
| Showy, looks like scarlet butterflies with bright yellow stripes at the base of each petal. The five-petaled flowers are 7.5–12.5 cm diameter, generally in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, or yellow, and are often fragrant. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Propagation |
| By seed or cuttings. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The bark is used to make rope while the bole and branches are used as posts and poles in house construction. |
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