Bauhinia purpurea is commonly called the Orchid tree or Butterfly tree. Here in Guyana and the Caribbean it is also known as Poor man orchid.
This small to medium-sized tree is a member of the Leguminosae family and originates from South-east Asia. Its name derives from the fact that the flowers resemble orchids in terms of shape and fragrance. They are reddish/purple in colour, while the leaves are bi-lobed.
There are many species of the Orchid tree planted in the Caribbean, and they tend to withstand drought well.
For those who would like to plant one, an Orchid tree is generally grown from seed, which should be soaked for 8-12 hours in hot water before being set in the earth. Choose a sunny spot for your tree, and sow the seed about one-and-a-half inches deep. On no account drown the seed, but just make sure that the soil remains moist during its first months of growth.
If you need to water your tree during the dry season, do so thoroughly, but do not water again until the soil dries out; the Orchid tree definitely doesn’t like being over-watered.
Fertilize with Blue Corn granuals 3-4 times per year.
Until next week, Happy Gardening!
