Bauhinia tomentosa L.

Yellow Bauhinia

Afr

Geelbeesklou

isiZulu

IsiThibathibana

IsiXhosa

Description

Family:

Fabaceae

Order:

Fabales

Description

Deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree (2 – 4 m), with soft, grey-green, velvety, deeply lobed leaves. Showy, yellow, bell-shaped flowers with maroon centers (summer – autumn). Flattened brown pods. Attractive for its flowers and foliage; good for small gardens, hedges, and containers.

Plant Details

Height

2 - 4 m

Thorns

Absent

Soil

Sandy, loamy, well-drained.

Fast

Growth Rate

2 - 4 m

Size

Not available

Lifespan

Flower Colour

Flowering Season

Horticultural Zones

Not available

pH

Sandy, loamy, well-drained.

Soil

Full sun to semi-shade.

Aspect

Low to moderate (young plants sensitive)

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Drought Resistance

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

Distribution

Companion Plants

Other riverine or woodland shrubs (e.g., Combretum, Croton, Erythrina).

Caterpillars

Not available

Associations

Descriptions

Insects:Flowers attract bees and butterflies.Wildlife:Browsed by game and livestock.Soil:Not a nitrogen fixer.Ecosystem Services:Ornamental, supports pollinators.

Flowers and fruits

Large, yellow, bell-shaped flowers with maroon centers attract bees and butterflies. Seeds in flattened pods, dispersed by gravity and possibly animals.

Birds

Not available

By Seeds:

Collect mature pods, remove seeds, soak overnight, sow in spring; germination in 2 – 3 weeks.

By Cuttings:

Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, with rooting hormone.

Traditional Uses

Bark and roots used for stomach complaints, dysentery, and as a purgative.

Plant Details

Height

Description

Thorns

Description

Leaves

Description

Size

Growth Form

Size

Size

Size

Lifespan

Size

Flower Colour

Size

Flowering Season

Size

Horticultural Zones

Size

pH

Size

Soil

Size

Aspect

Size

Frost Tolerance

Size

Drought Resistance

Description

DESCRIPTION

Height

DESCRIPTION

Leaves

DESCRIPTION

Thorns

DESCRIPTION

BSS

Ecoscore

Host plant Nectar Grazing

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

View

Distribution

Companion Plants

Description

Caterpillars

Associations

Leaves

Leaves

Flowers and fruits

Leaves

Birds

Leaves

Mammals

Leaves

By Seeds:

Leaves

By Cuttings:

Leaves

Traditional Uses

traditional uses