Bauhinia yunnanensis

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese orchid tree

Synonyms

Bauhinia saigonensis

Climber Wall Shrub

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A semi-evergreen, spreading, scrambling shrub climbing to around 4m high via twining tendrils on slender stems. Mid- to pale green, rounded leaves are coppery when young and have two lobes. Summer flowers to 5cm across are borne in small clusters and orchid-like in appearance with five pale pink petals, the upper three being striped with purple veins

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Climbing, Spreading branched
Genus: A large genus of around 300 species of flowering deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or small trees. The green foliage is lobed and shaped like a camel's foot, and the often fragrant, five-petalled flowers appear in late winter to early summer in shades of magenta, mauve, pink, white or crimson-red
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Indochina

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sheltered position in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Climber and wall shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 12

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free