Butterfly Orchid Tree
Bauhinia purpurea
NEMBA: Category 1b
English: Butterfly Orchid Tree, Orchid Tree, Purple Bauhinia, Camel's Foot Hawaiian Orchid Tree
Afrikaans: Skoenlapperorgideeboom
Bauhinia purpurea, also known as the Butterfly Orchid Tree, is a large evergreen tree that's native to Asia and competes with indigenous species.
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Origins: Indian subcontinent and Myanmar
Overall Appearance:
Bauhinia purpurea is a medium-sized, deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall. It has a rounded crown and smooth, grey-brown bark.
Leaves:
Leaves are unique, deeply divided into two lobes, resembling the shape of a butterfly. They are typically 10-20 cm long and wide.
Flowers:
Flowers are large, showy, and fragrant, with five petals in shades of pink, purple, or white. They are borne in clusters and bloom from spring to summer.
Flowering Season:
Primarily from spring to summer.
Fruits:
Flat, brown seed pods that can be 15-30 cm long.
Seeds:
Numerous, small, and dark brown seeds within the pods.
Bark:
Smooth, grey-brown bark that may become slightly fissured with age.
Wood:
Hard and durable.
Soil Type:
Adaptable to a wide range of soil types.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Edibility:
Young leaves and flowers are edible and can be cooked and eaten.
Problem Provinces:
In KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Eastern Cape, it's a category 1b invasive. In the rest of South Africa, it's category 3.
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