Generalities :

LThe genus Bauhinia includes arboreal and herbaceous plants native to the tropical areas of Asia and Africa. They are plants also known with the name of orchid tree because in some species the flowers resemble orchids and because they can become real trees reaching even ten meters in height and beyond. In fact, these are mostly trees and shrubs with more or less thorny branches characterized by hard wood. The leaves are composed, formed by two leaflets welded from the petiole up to half of their length so as to remember with their shape the hoof of a cow or a camel. The flowers are gathered in cluster inflorescences, simple, apical or axillary and are formed by five petals of which the upper one is generally larger. Their peculiarity is that in different species they open at dawn and close again at midday when all the petals fall. The following day, a new flowering takes place.

Cultivation and Care:

Bauhinia are tropical plants and in cold climate regions they can only be grown indoors. They are plants that love the air and the sun, therefore during the spring-summer period it is preferable to take them outdoors and place them in a sunny position. During the spring-summer period the Bauhinia should be watered abundantly, being careful not to let the water stagnate in the saucer and waiting for the soil to dry between one watering and another. During the other periods, watering must be drastically reduced, just enough not to make the soil dry out, as the plant enters vegetative rest. Bauhinia are not particularly demanding plants in terms of soil even if they prefer a soil rich in organic substance and very well drained. To do this, place several pieces of earthenware on the bottom of the pot to help drain the irrigation water.