About
Bauhinia brachycarpa is a sizable shrub or diminutive tree, reaching heights of up to 5 meters in its natural habitat, though it typically remains smaller when cultivated. The dark green foliage features nearly round leaves divided into two lobes that fold upward at night. During mid- to late summer, the plant produces small, white flowers with four petals, which appear in clusters on stalks that emerge from the shoots opposite the leaves.
About the genus
This extensive genus comprises approximately 300 species of flowering shrubs and small trees, which may be deciduous or semi-evergreen. The leaves, characterized by a lobed structure resembling a camel's foot, provide a distinct appearance. From late winter to early summer, fragrant flowers with five petals bloom in various colors, including magenta, mauve, pink, white, and crimson-red.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a sheltered position in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free