Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Climber Wall Shrub

Bauhinia yunnanensis

Chinese orchid tree

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

Synonyms
Bauhinia saigonensis

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Purple Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Fabaceae
Native to the UK
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

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.