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Bauhinia forficata (White Butterfly Tree) - A deciduous tree to 40 feet tall with large heart-shaped dark green leaves held on branches that have short, sharp thorns at the joints. From late spring through early fall appear the large white orchid-like flowers in coastal southern California gardens but in colder locations it tends to be more strictly fall flowering. Light brown seed pods, that become twisted as they dry, follow the flowers.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil and give a fairly regular watering schedule, but is tolerant of considerably drier conditions as evidenced by plants growing in areas that are rarely irrigated. It is one of the hardier of the Bauhinia, tolerating temperatures down into the high teens and can even resprout if frozen down to the ground to produce flowers later that same year. Seed that drops to the ground often germinates in irrigated garden areas. It is best to pull these seedlings (using gloves because of the thorns) when young.
This tree is native to the Atlantic rainforest areas of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern and eastern Brazil and Bolivia. The name "Bauhinia" was a name given this genus by Linnaeus to honor the twin brothers Johann and Gaspard Bauhin, who were 16th century Swiss scientists - Johann was a botanist and Gaspard a botanist and physician. Using the name of these identical twins is fitting as Bauhinia leaves are composed of two identical lobes. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'forfex' for "scissors", likely in reference to the distinct v shaped gap between the leaves. It is sometimes commonly called Brazilian Butterfly Tree or White Orchid Tree and it has long been in cultivation in California after being introduced into cultivation in Santa Barbara by Dr. Francesco Franceschi (AKA Emanuele Orazio Fenzi) in 1911. We grew this interesting and attractive tree from 1987 until 2000 and we still have a large and beautiful specimen in our nursery garden.
The information about Bauhinia forficata that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.
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