Bauhinia variegata Seeds | Orchid Tree
LATIN NAME: Bauhinia variegata
COMMON NAME: Orchid Tree, Mountain Ebony
Plant Profile
Bauhinia variegata, commonly known as Orchid Tree, is a species with a long record in gardens. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. All of this makes Orchid Tree a satisfying plant to grow and to get to know.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the Bauhinia group, Bauhinia variegata is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Its fertile, seed-producing nature also makes it a useful genetic reference point for botanists studying the wider Bauhinia genus, in contrast to sterile hybrid Hong Kong orchid tree discussed elsewhere in our collection. Its behaviour in gardens is well recorded, thanks to a long history in cultivation.
Uses & Benefits
Orchid Tree brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Orchid tree is one of the most widely planted ornamental flowering trees across the warm subtropics and tropics, valued for its dramatic, orchid-like blooms that cover the tree before leaves emerge each season. In parts of South and Southeast Asia, its unopened flower buds are also pickled or cooked as a traditional vegetable, giving species genuine culinary as well as ornamental value. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Orchid trees are beloved ornamentals, and in India the leaves and bark have Ayurvedic records for thyroid and blood sugar support, now under laboratory study. The flower buds are also eaten as a vegetable in parts of Asia.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Orchid Tree, and the process is uncomplicated. Nick or lightly sand hard seed coat and soak it in warm water overnight before sowing into a loose, well-drained mix. Bright light suits young tree well, and it typically establishes readily, eventually producing dramatic orchid-like flower display that has made species such a popular ornamental worldwide. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Orchid Tree, Mountain Ebony is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Careful watering early on is rewarded by toughness at maturity.
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