Brisbane tree guide

Purple orchid tree (bauhinia)

Bauhinia variegata · also called Bauhinia, Orchid tree, Butterfly tree

The purple orchid tree, often just called a bauhinia tree, is a small Asian tree grown for its big, scented, orchid-like flowers in purple, pink or white and its distinctive two-lobed leaves. It is widely planted in eastern Australian towns and is usually listed at about 5 to 6 metres, but it sets plenty of seed and is known to escape into Brisbane waterways.

Exotic
5 to 6 m tall
Flowers September to November

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Purple orchid tree, from Wikimedia Commons — Photo: Peter1968 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Purple orchid tree at a glance

Height: 5 to 6 m
Spread: 2 to 3 m
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Purple, pink, white, September to November
Origin: Southern China, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia
Family: Fabaceae

How to identify a purple orchid tree

Start with the leaves: broad, up to about 15 cm wide, and split at the tip into two rounded lobes. The large, scented flowers range from white to shades of pink and purple, with darker purple-red markings on the petals. Count the stamens to be sure: this species has five fertile stamens, while the similar purple bauhinia (Bauhinia purpurea) and the red bauhinia have three. The Hong Kong orchid tree, a hybrid of this species, is sterile and rarely carries pods, whereas the purple orchid tree carries long, flat pods for months. Young trunks are smooth and old trunks become rough.

Growing a purple orchid tree in Brisbane

It is widely planted in towns across northern and eastern Australia, often as a street tree. Bauhinias do best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, with shelter from frost and cold winds, and once established this species copes with dry spells and needs little extra water. The catch is seed: the Environmental Weeds of Australia key reports it has naturalised in parts of south-east Queensland and readily escapes into Brisbane waterways, so it is a poor choice next to creeks or bushland.

What to watch out for

It sets plenty of seed: a national weed key reports it naturalising in parts of south-east Queensland and escaping into Brisbane waterways, so pull up seedlings and avoid planting it near creeks or bushland. The long pods can hang on for months and look untidy.

Seedlings. It has naturalised in parts of south-east Queensland, and a national weed key reports it readily escapes from gardens into Brisbane waterways.
Mess. Bauhinia seed pods can stay on the tree for months and look untidy.

Pruning and care

Shape it while it is young to build a balanced, even canopy. After that, pruning is not usually needed, but a trim straight after flowering keeps it tidy and removes the pods, which look untidy and carry the seed. Give it full sun and well-drained soil; it needs little extra water once established. Pull out any seedlings that pop up nearby while they are small. Larger limbs over roofs, fences or footpaths are a job for a qualified arborist.

Purple orchid tree: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

How tall does a bauhinia tree grow?

The Botanic Gardens of South Australia lists the purple orchid tree, a common bauhinia tree, at 5 to 6 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide, which makes it a small tree for most gardens.

Is the purple orchid tree a weed?

It isn't on Brisbane City Council's weed list or Queensland's restricted list. However, the Environmental Weeds of Australia key reports it escaping from gardens into Brisbane waterways, so remove seedlings and keep it away from bushland.

How do you tell a purple orchid tree from a Hong Kong orchid tree?

The Hong Kong orchid tree is a sterile hybrid with rich magenta flowers and rarely sets pods. The purple orchid tree produces long, flat seed pods after flowering, and its flowers have five fertile stamens.

When does the purple orchid tree flower?

Mainly in spring, when it can be covered in scented, orchid-like flowers, and the Botanic Gardens of South Australia notes the display can run on into summer.

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Sources and credits

Photo: Peter1968 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.

This profile updates sheet 13 of the plant profile booklet made for Colourful Tree Lopping in 2013. We checked every fact against current sources and rewrote it for the guide.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.