What are the characteristics and symbolic meanings of the Hong Kong orchid tree?

Family and genus of the Hong Kong orchid tree

Fabaceae, Fabales, Bauhinia blakeana

Aliases of the Hong Kong orchid tree

Hong Kong orchid tree, red camel's foot; Latin scientific name: Bauhinia blakeana Dunn

Distribution of the Hong Kong orchid tree

The Hong Kong orchid tree is mostly distributed in southern China, existing as a street tree in many cities. Because of its brilliant flowers and graceful tree shape, it is deeply loved by local people; in 1965 it was chosen as the city flower of Hong Kong, China, and in 1990 it was designated as the pattern for the regional flag and regional emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Morphological characteristics of the Hong Kong orchid tree

Evergreen tree, 6-10 m tall. Leaves are round or kidney-shaped, with two lobes at the apex, the lobes rounded and blunt, resembling a sheep's hoof; the upper surface is hairless, the lower surface sparsely covered with short soft hairs, leathery to the touch, usually wider than long; the tree is much branched, branchlets slender and hairy; red or purple panicles, a single flower about the size of a palm, with a floral fragrance similar to that of orchids. Bark dark brown, nearly smooth. Flowering period is from November to April of the following year, with March being the peak.

Growth habits of the Hong Kong orchid tree

The Hong Kong orchid tree prefers high temperatures and a humid, rainy climate, and is not very cold-tolerant, but it can overwinter in areas south of the Tropic of Cancer in China; it likes nutrient-rich acidic soil environments, and likes water but fears waterlogging.