Bauhinia × blakeana ‘Pnina’

Bauhinia × blakeana ‘Pnina’ is a tree that originates from Hong Kong, where it is called the “Hong Kong orchid tree” because of its impressive and fragrant flowers that are very similar to orchids. The source of all trees of this cultivar is a single tree in the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens, from which they were propagated en masse at the beginning of the 20th century. This is a hybrid cultivar that excels in its especially long flowering period and in the fact that it is sterile.

Its canopy is round-oval, and it has a sculptural appearance. As an adult, it reaches an average height of about 12 m. It is easy to grow and is impressively resilient. It is suitable for most types of soil, except for saline. It requires rather little water, and auxiliary watering is only recommended when it is young – until it is established. It can be designed with multiple trunks. The tree’s leaves are heart-shaped. Bauhinia trees have some of the most beautiful flowers in Israel. A grafted cultivar of which we are especially proud is our Bauhinia variegata ‘Pnina.’ Its great uniqueness is that it is a sterile Bauhinia. That is, it does not bear fruit – the many brown pods that spoil the appearance of the tree and its ornamental element. Another benefit that we preserve in this cultivar is its impressive flowers all throughout winter: over 120 days in a row, from November to April! After the red flowering, the tree changes its leaves for two-to-three weeks, and then it blooms and displays fresh and rich green foliage throughout the year. The tree is decorated with light flowerings intermittently throughout the year, until the significant flowering period that begins around November.

Additional trees from the same family: Bauhinia variegata ‘Rubra’ | Bauhinia variegata ‘Alba’ | Bauhinia variegata ‘Pnina’ | Bauhinia variegata ‘Natali