Sierra Orchid tree in bloom
When you think of orchid trees (genus Bauhinia), you don't normally think of plants that tolerate regular freezes in winter, but there are those few that will take quite a beating from old man winter. The Sierra Orchid tree (Bauhinia macranthera) hails from the western Sierra Madre in Mexico, in the state of Chihuahua. It forms a small tree up to 15 feet in height. This easy to grow plant blooms profusely in late spring and early summer, and off and on after that til fall. I found that they are not self fertile, so you'll need two plants to produce seeds. I do have two, so I get a small load of seeds each year to stash in the seed fridge. I've never had any freeze damage on my plants, and I've had mid teens Fahrenheit several times at my place. They do not like to go without water in an extreme drought, though, and will die back if they get too dry. It has been reported that this species has survived down to 4ºF in Hempstead, TX in the 1989 freeze, so it has real promise for those who want that tropical feel, but live in zones 8 or 7. Propagation of this tree is done only by seed. I've not been able to root it with any success, but seeds germinate readily after scarification and soaking. There are other Bauhinia species that can be grown in zone 8, including Mexican orchid tree (B. divaricata) with its small white flowers, Anacacho orchid tree (B. congesta), native to the southern Texas Hill Country having white (and occasionally pink) flowers, and also the red orchid tree (B. galpinii), as a die-back perennial native to South Africa. Far and away the best, however, is our friend from Chihuahua, Mexico, the Sierra Orchid Tree.
Pink Bauhinia macranthera flower
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