Bauhinia galpinii: Red Bauhinia, Red Orchid Bush

This Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ publication is part of a series originally written by Edward F. Gilman. Visit https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu to learn more about creating and maintaining attractive landscapes that protect Florida's water resources and environment.

Introduction

Red bauhinia is a dense, semi-climbing evergreen with a spreading habit of up to 15 feet, and a height dependent upon the supporting structure (Figure 1). The evergreen leaves are oblong and deeply lobed (Figure 2). The showy flowers of this sprawling plant are orchid-like in appearance, brick-red in color, and born in racemes (Figure 3). The 1 1/2-inch-wide flowers of red bauhinia occur in the spring through fall. The fruits are 5-inch-long pods that appear in the late summer, persist on the plant, and may be a litter problem in the landscape (Figure 4). Red bauhinia is a hardy plant, being both drought and salt tolerant. This plant may be utilized as a specimen, espalier, in a hanging basket, as a border in a landscape bed, or planted en masse as a groundcover.

General Information

Scientific name: Bauhinia galpinii

Previous scientific name(s): Bauhinia punctata (synonym)

Pronunciation: baw-HIN-ee-uh gal-pin-E

Common name(s): Red bauhinia; nasturtium bauhinia; pride of the cape; red orchid bush

Family: Fabaceae

Plant type: shrub; vine

USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11B (Figures 5 and 6)

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zones 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: specimen; espalier; container; hanging basket; border; groundcover

Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries

Description

Height: depends upon supporting structure

Spread: 6 to 15 feet

Plant habit: spreading

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: medium

Use and Management

Red bauhinia thrives when planted in full sun. It is highly drought tolerant and has moderate salt tolerance. This plant is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, but grows best on a well-drained, sandy loam soil. It often suffers from a deficiency of micronutrients in soil with a pH above 7. This plant requires little maintenance once it is established but may need early spring pruning or shaping for growth control.

Red bauhinia is nice in the landscape as an espalier, specimen, border, groundcover, and container plant. It climbs a fence nicely, producing most of the flowers near the top. It is a bit asymmetrical, perhaps even unkempt looking, making it best suited for large-scale landscape planting.

Red bauhinia is propagated by seeds or cuttings.

Design Considerations

With its dramatic, sprawling habit and vivid reddish-orange blooms, red bauhinia makes an exceptional specimen plant. Its sprawling form is highly effective when allowed to spill over banks and retaining walls, or it can be trained as a striking espalier. For a high-impact landscape design, contrast its features with companion plants of differing color and form. The red flowers create a stunning visual when paired with the cool blues and purples of Agapanthus or Salvia, while its arching branches provide a contrast to the fine, upright blades of ornamental grasses or the bold, architectural shapes of Yuccas and Agaves. As a guiding principle, select companions that thrive in full sun and share similar low-to-moderate water needs once established.

Pests and Diseases

Pest issues include foliar damage from chewing insects. No diseases of major concern.