Above: Bauhinia variegata seedling
Now, this tree is considered invasive to Florida and I will only grow it if I can keep it contained in a pot. Infact, it was one of the original eleven species that the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association recommended for removal from the market by its members.
It sheds leaves, seed pods, and looks scraggly a few times per year, so it's not the most desireable tree. Ironically, they are planted all over town. The tell-tale sign of an orchid tree seedling is the lobe on both sides of the leaves; this facilitates the opening and closing of the leaves. Apparently, the leaves are edible and the wood is called ebony and is prized in countries like India, its native home.
Perhaps the most interesting fact about the Bauhinia variegata is that it's in the pea/bean family. It's not an orchid. Now you're schooled on orchid trees...happy gardening!
I would love to plant some bamboo in my yard, but I'm afraid also of unleashing something unmanageable into my local ecosystem. Isn't it weird that a tree could be a legume? I discovered that a redbud is too.
ReplyDeleteHere's some bamboo you can grow safely in your yard:
ReplyDelete•Gigantochloa atroviolacea. Called tropical black, it features stunning black stalks divided by green bands. It will grow 40 feet and taller in sun to partial shade.
•Bambusa chungii. Tropical blue has a fine white wax coating on the culms that makes them appear pale blue. It grows 20 to 30 feet tall and prefers light shade.
•Bambusa oldhamii. Tropical timber is the biggest of the big, Rogers says. It climbs more than 40 feet tall with culms 4 inches in diameter and grows straight, which limits its footprint on the ground. It prefers full sun.
•Bambusa textilis mutabilis. Emerald bamboo has a clean look; the leaves start about 18 feet up. It grows 30 to 40 feet in full sun.
Rogers cautions that bamboo tends to grow thicker and taller in Florida because of the hot, humid and rainy summers.
After planting, water a couple of times a week. Once bamboo has enjoyed a rainy Florida summer, it usually becomes drought-tolerant
I'm at tbo.com, keyword: dirt if you ever wanna check out a Tampa area garden blog.
I have a couple orchid trees I grew from collected seed-no sign of it becoming invasive here, I have problems keeping mine alive! TRhey are just stunning when in bloom. In our dry and barren limestone soil the fallen leaves and pods are welcome to make compost.
ReplyDeleteOops, I just read my previous comment and I apologize -- I should've written "I'm at ... if you're wanting to check out OTHER Tampa garden blogs." I enjoy reading all of the local garden blogs because I pick up so much information. And so much of it is different than (and probably better info than) what I read on "official" sites. I'm gonna blame it on Typing Too Fast -- fingers and brain not engaged. (I get excited.)
ReplyDeleteI also neglected to note that the bamboo info came from a guy who's been growing tons of it here for years. I don't have any bamboo.
I, too, have an orchid tree sprout growing from seed. About the size of your's, Danielle. I was concerned about it being invasive, but the woman who gave it to me said she's never had a volunteer! Plus, she can keep it pruned to small-tree height, about 13 feet, which works for me. Maybe different varieties behave differently? I'm hoping to plant mine in the ground -- I'll be interested to see what happens with your's.