Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Orchid Tree
Orchid Tree is a spring flowering tree covered in large pink to purple blooms that look like orchids. In the Valley it flowers from early March through mid-April, and the blooms carry a sweet scent. It grows about 20 to 35 feet tall and wide with rounded, two-lobed leaves. Plant it as an accent or a light shade tree where it gets regular water.
Best for: a spring flowering accent tree, light shade over a patio or yard, fragrant color near a walkway, and yards with regular water.
From early March through mid-April the tree is covered in large pink to purple flowers, often while it is almost bare. A white form is also grown.
It grows about 20 to 35 feet tall with an equal spread, so a mature tree shades a good part of the yard. It is used as an accent or shade tree in yards with regular water.
The flowers carry a sweet fragrance. Plant it near a walkway, patio or window so you can enjoy it while it blooms.
It takes cold only to about 22°F, so young trees need frost cover. It needs regular water and can show yellow leaves in alkaline desert soil. Long brown seed pods follow the flowers and drop.
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 by the second month, and keep up deep, regular soaks for its first 3 years. Once rooted, soak it at the drip line every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter.
Prune and stake it while it is young so it grows a strong branch structure. Use two stakes outside the root ball with soft, wide ties, and remove them after about a year.
Prune lightly and never take more than a quarter of the canopy in a year. Heavy thinning exposes the bark to sunburn, so keep big cuts out of summer.
It is hardy to about 22°F, so cover young trees with frost cloth on frost nights. Leave any frost damage on the tree until about March, then trim it off.
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.
How big does an orchid tree get?
It grows about 20 to 35 feet tall and about as wide. Give it room to spread.
When does the orchid tree bloom in Phoenix?
It blooms from early March through mid-April in the Valley. The tree is often almost bare while it flowers, so the blooms stand out.
What color are the flowers?
Most trees bloom in shades of pink to purple. A white form, sold as 'Candida', is also grown.
Are the flowers fragrant?
Yes. The flowers have a sweet fragrance, so plant it near a patio or walkway to enjoy them.
How fast does it grow?
It grows at a moderate to fast pace with regular water. Expect it to fill out quickly in its first few years.
How much water does an orchid tree need?
It needs moderate, regular water and more in summer. Water deeply at the edge of the canopy so the soil does not dry out in the heat.
How cold hardy is the orchid tree?
It is hardy to about 22°F. Cover young trees on frost nights, and wait until about March to trim any frost damage.
Does it lose its leaves?
It keeps most leaves through the year but drops them briefly in late winter or early spring, around bloom time.
Is it messy?
It drops a moderate amount of litter. Long, flat brown seed pods, 6 to 12 inches, follow the flowers, so keep it back from pools.
Why are my orchid tree leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves are common in alkaline desert soil. Deep, regular watering suits it best.
How do I prune an orchid tree?
Prune and stake it in its first few years to build a strong main branch structure. After that, prune lightly and avoid heavy cuts in summer so the bark does not sunburn.
How is it different from Purple Orchid Tree and Hong Kong Orchid Tree?
Purple Orchid Tree is a related species that blooms first, from fall into winter. Hong Kong Orchid Tree is a sterile cross that sets few or no pods but takes cold only to about 28 to 30°F.
Orchid Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Orchid Tree is grown for its big, orchid-like pink to purple flowers, which cover the tree in March and April in the Valley. It grows about 20 to 35 feet tall and wide with regular water. Below: size, bloom time, fragrance, water, cold, leaf drop, pods, pruning and how it compares with Purple Orchid Tree and Hong Kong Orchid Tree.
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When does the orchid tree bloom in Arizona?
In the Valley it blooms from early March through mid-April. The large pink to purple flowers often open while the tree is almost bare.
How big does a Bauhinia variegata get?
It grows about 20 to 35 feet tall with an equal spread. It works as a spring accent or a light shade tree in yards with regular water.
How cold hardy is the orchid tree in Phoenix?
It is hardy to about 22°F. Young trees need frost cloth on cold nights, and frost damage is best trimmed in March.
How often to water an orchid tree
It needs moderate, regular water. Once rooted, give it a deep soak every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter.
Orchid tree vs purple orchid tree
Both are Bauhinia species with orchid-like flowers. Purple orchid tree blooms first, from fall into winter, while this orchid tree blooms from late winter into spring.
Orchid tree vs Hong Kong orchid tree
Hong Kong orchid tree is a sterile cross that sets few or no pods, but it takes cold only to about 28 to 30°F. This orchid tree is hardier, to about 22°F, and sets long seed pods.
Orchid tree seed pods
Long, flat brown pods, 6 to 12 inches, follow the flowers and drop. Plant it away from pools and patios you want to keep clean.
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