Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Hong Kong orchid tree covers itself in big rose-purple, orchid-shaped flowers about 6 inches across, from late fall into spring when little else is blooming. It's sterile, so it drops no seed pods. It loves desert heat with enough water, reaches about 20 to 30 feet, and gets damaged in a hard freeze.
Best for: a winter color focal point in the front yard, shade over a patio, and a cleaner orchid tree with no bean pods.
Its big orchid-like flowers open from late fall into spring, when most of the yard is quiet, and in Phoenix the heaviest bloom runs from January into May. Set it where it is seen from the street or a front window, in full sun.
It grows into a broad, umbrella-shaped canopy about 20 to 25 feet across that shades a patio in the warm months. Keep it out of hot western sun, since the trunk and branches can sunburn.
Unlike the common purple orchid tree, it's sterile and drops no seed pods. It also has bigger flowers and a smoother, lighter trunk.
A hard freeze kills leaves, flowers and small twigs, and young trees are most at risk, so cover them on freeze nights. It also struggles with salty Phoenix water and dry spells, so it is not a low-water tree. Deep basin watering flushes salts past the roots.
- Tree to tree20-25 ft apart
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Ease to about weekly in summer by the second month. Keep up deep, regular soaks for its first 3 years.
It is not drought tolerant, so do not let it go dry in summer. Once rooted, soak it 2 to 3 feet deep about every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter. Water at the drip line, not the trunk.
Stake and train it while young so it forms an upright tree. Remove the stakes once the trunk can hold the tree.
Never prune a mature tree hard or thin it out, because the trunk and branches sunburn.
It can be damaged below about 28 to 30°F. Cover young trees with frost cloth on freeze nights. If frost browns the leaves, wait until frost danger passes, about March, before cutting off the dead growth.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
When does Hong Kong orchid tree bloom?
From late fall into spring, when little else is flowering. In Phoenix the heaviest bloom usually runs from January into May.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Its winter and spring flowers draw hummingbirds and other pollinators when little else is blooming.
How big does it get?
About 20 to 30 feet tall with a broad canopy 20 to 35 feet across. Pruning a young tree can keep it smaller, but never cut a mature tree hard.
Does it drop messy seed pods?
No. It is sterile, so it does not drop the bean pods the common purple orchid tree does. It does drop spent flowers, which can color the ground under it.
Is it cold hardy in Phoenix?
It takes light frost only. At about 28°F the leaves, flowers and small twigs die back, while larger limbs take a couple of degrees more. It usually regrows from the roots. Cover young trees on freeze nights.
How much water does it need?
More than a desert tree. It does well on a lawn-style schedule with deep, regular water. Basin or flood watering helps flush salt from Phoenix water away from the roots.
Why does it look ragged in early summer?
That is normal for this tree. It goes partly dormant in early summer and looks tired, then puts out new growth around late July. Keep watering on its regular schedule through that time.
Should I fertilize it?
Yes. Give it a general fertilizer in early spring, before new growth starts.
Why are the leaf edges turning brown?
Usually dry heat or drought. Give it steady, deep water, and use basin watering to push salts past the roots.
Does it have pest problems?
It has no significant pests in Arizona. Leaf problems usually trace back to dry soil or salt buildup, so keep up deep basin watering.
How should I train a young tree?
Train and stake it while it is young so it forms a sturdy, upright shape. Once it is mature, never prune it hard or thin it out, because the trunk and branches sunburn.
Hong Kong Orchid Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Hong Kong orchid tree blooms from late fall into spring, with rose-purple blooms about 6 inches across. It does well in desert heat when it gets steady water, and it drops no seed pods. This page answers the questions people ask most about growing it here.
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When does Hong Kong orchid tree bloom in Phoenix?
From late fall into spring, often peaking later in Phoenix. It flowers when most other trees are quiet.
Hong Kong vs purple orchid tree
Hong Kong orchid tree is sterile, so it drops no messy bean pods. It has larger flowers, a longer bloom, and a smooth, light trunk. The purple orchid tree pods heavily and has a rough, dark trunk.
Frost damage on orchid trees
At about 28°F, leaves, flowers and small twigs die back, and larger limbs are a little tougher. Trees usually regrow from the roots. Young trees are the most tender, so cover them on freeze nights.
Watering an orchid tree in Phoenix
Treat it like a lawn tree, with deep, regular water. Basin or flood watering flushes the salt in Phoenix water past the roots. Drought browns the leaf edges.
Planting a Hong Kong orchid tree
Dig at least twice as wide as the root ball and backfill with the native soil. Finish with a shallow basin so deep watering soaks in and pushes salts past the roots.
Why orchid trees look ragged in summer
They go partly dormant in early summer and can look tired. New growth usually starts around late July. Keep watering on the normal schedule until then.
Pruning a young orchid tree
Train and stake a young tree so it grows into a sturdy, upright shape. Never prune a mature tree hard, because the trunk and branches sunburn.
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