Bauhinia purpurea “Purple Orchid-Tree”

Bauhinia purpurea “Purple Orchid-Tree”

Purple orchid tree is fast-growing, will ultimately reach 25-35 feet in height with spread 10-20 feet, the slender trunks topped with arching branches clothed in large, two-lobed, deciduous leaves. The young leaves and flowers of Bauhinia purpurea are edible. Bauhinia purpurea “purple orchid-tree” is festooned with many showy and delightfully fragrant, five-inch-wide blossoms, the narrow purple, pink, and lavender petals arranged to closely resemble an orchid. These flowers appear on the trees from September through November and are a beautiful sight to see and also used in pickles and curries, creating a vivid splash of color in the autumn landscape. The flowers are followed by 12-inch-long, slender, brown, flat seedpods which usually persist on the tree throughout the winter, then fall to create a mess to clean up. The spectacular flower display makes orchid-tree a favorite for specimen plantings.