A good friend just returned from a tours of public gardens in Florida and asked me about this flowering plant. I have no other characteristics like if it is a vine or a shrub or how large the plant was. She has asked for an ID and I am stumped. Any ideas?


Edited to add, she just told me the photo was actually taken on a trip to S. Africa.

The orchid tree, Bauhinia purpurea

edit: flowers petal quite wide, most likely B x blakeana, the hybrids of B purpurea and B variegata. Is there any seed pod? B x blakeana is sterile and won't have seed pod.

Thank you, I'll pass that information on.

Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea) is found in South Africa and considered invasive: http://www.invasives.org.za/le...

I googled for Bauhinia of South Africa and found others with white, yellow and red blooms.

Thanks Lin, I'll tell her.