Purple Bauhinia / Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea)
50 SEK
Unit price perEstimated delivery to you: 06 February to 13 February.
SEEDS (5 pcs/bag)
Common names: Purple Bauhinia, Camel's Foot Tree, Purple Bauhinia, Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree
Scientific name: Bauhinia purpurea
Family: Fabaceae
Plant history & use:
The Purple Bauhinia is a beautiful tree with abundant purple-colored flowers. The flowers have a scent similar to honeysuckle. The tree originates from the area around India and Myanmar.
Like the Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata), the flower buds, flowers, young leaves, and young seed pods of the Purple Bauhinia are edible.
You can pickle the unopened flower buds in a way similar to how we pickle Capers in Europe. They can also be added to stews and made into various types of salsa. The flower buds are called Kachnar in Indian - this is also the search term used if you want to find recipes for using the unopened flower buds.
Seed pods are boiled and eaten as a vegetable on the side.
Seeds can be fried or roasted in a pan for consumption.
In Southeast Asia, the Purple Bauhinia is also used to soothe swellings, bruises, and to heal wounds. In India, the leaves are used to make a type of cough medicine.
Cultivation:
The Purple Bauhinia originates from subtropical and tropical climates in southern Asia. The Purple Bauhinia is not as frost-hardy as the Orchid Tree, but it does tolerate frost. On younger trees, leaves may be damaged by frost and fall off, but the tree recovers during the growing season.
In Sweden, it is recommended to grow it in a pot that is kept above freezing during winter. If you have several trees, live in the warmer parts of the country, and want to experiment with the limits, you should choose a sheltered and sunny location and cover the base of the tree with straw or similar material over winter. This insulates the tree against the worst cold. Regardless, it is advantageous to let the tree overwinter above freezing the first year to allow it to grow as strong as possible before planting out the following year.
The Purple Bauhinia prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soils with plenty of organic material and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH: 6.5-7.5. Ordinary planting soil works well.
The tree can be propagated by cuttings as well as seeds.
Sowing:
Soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing.
Preferably start indoors or in a greenhouse under about 1 cm of soil. Keep the sowing moist. The seeds are considered fast-germinating; it usually takes no more than about 1 week before the seeds begin to sprout, although some seeds take longer.
Characteristics:
Lifespan: Perennial
Light: sun / partial shade
Height: 2-10 m
Germination time: 1-4 weeks
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Purple Bauhinia / Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea)
50 SEK
Unit price perOrders received before Sunday morning are packed Sunday to Monday.
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50 SEK
Unit price perSEEDS (5 pcs/bag)
Common names: Purple Bauhinia, Camel's Foot Tree, Purple Bauhinia, Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree
Scientific name: Bauhinia purpurea
Family: Fabaceae
Plant history & use:
The Purple Bauhinia is a beautiful tree with abundant purple-colored flowers. The flowers have a scent similar to honeysuckle. The tree originates from the area around India and Myanmar.
Like the Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata), the flower buds, flowers, young leaves, and young seed pods of the Purple Bauhinia are edible.
You can pickle the unopened flower buds in a way similar to how we pickle Capers in Europe. They can also be added to stews and made into various types of salsa. The flower buds are called Kachnar in Indian - this is also the search term used if you want to find recipes for using the unopened flower buds.
Seed pods are boiled and eaten as a vegetable on the side.
Seeds can be fried or roasted in a pan for consumption.
In Southeast Asia, the Purple Bauhinia is also used to soothe swellings, bruises, and to heal wounds. In India, the leaves are used to make a type of cough medicine.
Cultivation:
The Purple Bauhinia originates from subtropical and tropical climates in southern Asia. The Purple Bauhinia is not as frost-hardy as the Orchid Tree, but it does tolerate frost. On younger trees, leaves may be damaged by frost and fall off, but the tree recovers during the growing season.
In Sweden, it is recommended to grow it in a pot that is kept above freezing during winter. If you have several trees, live in the warmer parts of the country, and want to experiment with the limits, you should choose a sheltered and sunny location and cover the base of the tree with straw or similar material over winter. This insulates the tree against the worst cold. Regardless, it is advantageous to let the tree overwinter above freezing the first year to allow it to grow as strong as possible before planting out the following year.
The Purple Bauhinia prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soils with plenty of organic material and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH: 6.5-7.5. Ordinary planting soil works well.
The tree can be propagated by cuttings as well as seeds.
Sowing:
Soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing.
Preferably start indoors or in a greenhouse under about 1 cm of soil. Keep the sowing moist. The seeds are considered fast-germinating; it usually takes no more than about 1 week before the seeds begin to sprout, although some seeds take longer.
Characteristics:
Lifespan: Perennial
Light: sun / partial shade
Height: 2-10 m
Germination time: 1-4 weeks
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