Hong Kong orchid tree
Bauhinia × blakeana, family Fabaceae
In its own language: 洋紫荊
A purple-flowered tree, emblem of Hong Kong, grown for its showy blooms
The Hong Kong orchid tree is a hybrid tree with large, fragrant purple flowers and double-lobed leaves. First found in Hong Kong in the late 1800s, it is now planted widely and is the floral symbol of Hong Kong, appearing on its flag and coins.
- Chosen as the floral emblem of Hong Kong since 1997
- Large, fragrant purple flowers bloom from November to March
- All cultivated trees trace back to a single plant found in Hong Kong
- Leaves are used as lucky bookmarks by students
- Usually sterile and grown by grafting, not from seed
What does Hong Kong orchid tree look like?
This tree grows with a rounded crown and can reach medium height. Its leaves are thick, split deeply at the tip, and shaped a bit like a butterfly or a heart. The flowers are large—about 10 to 15 cm across—and have a strong, sweet scent. Their petals are purplish red, sometimes with pink or magenta tones, and look similar to orchid blooms. The leaves are often used as bookmarks in Hong Kong, where they are called 'clever leaves' and thought to bring luck in studies.
Where does Hong Kong orchid tree come from?
The Hong Kong orchid tree was first noticed near Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island around 1880 by a French missionary. It was then grown in the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens from cuttings, and all known trees today are believed to be descended from that original plant. The tree is a hybrid between Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegata, as confirmed by genetic studies. It is not found in the wild and only exists in cultivation. Its name honours Sir Henry and Lady Blake, who supported the Hong Kong Botanic Gardens.
When and how Hong Kong orchid tree blooms
Because this tree is usually sterile and does not set seed, it is propagated by grafting. Gardeners take cuttings or graft branches onto rootstock to grow new trees. It blooms from November to March in Hong Kong, producing its large, orchid-like flowers during the cooler months. The tree prefers warm climates and is grown in gardens and along streets for its decorative flowers and shade.
How Hong Kong orchid tree is used
The Hong Kong orchid tree is planted widely in parks, gardens, and along city streets for its striking flowers. In Hong Kong, it is a symbol of the region and appears on the flag, coins, and public emblems. The leaves are used as good-luck bookmarks by students. While it is mainly grown for its beauty and as a symbol, it is also the city flower of Chiayi in Taiwan.
Kinds of Hong Kong orchid tree
Bauhinia × blakeana is a hybrid, with its closest relatives being Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegata. There are no major cultivated varieties, as nearly all trees come from the same original plant. Rarely, a tree may produce seeds, but most are sterile. The genus Bauhinia includes other species with similar double-lobed leaves and orchid-like flowers.
What Hong Kong orchid tree means
Since 1997, the flower of this tree has been the official floral emblem of Hong Kong, featured on the region's flag and coins. A large sculpture of the flower stands in Golden Bauhinia Square. In Hong Kong, the leaf is seen as a sign of wisdom and luck in learning. The tree is also the city flower of Chiayi in Taiwan. Its flowers are shown in white on the flag, though they are purple in real life.
Where Hong Kong orchid tree is used and seen
Questions people ask about Hong Kong orchid tree
Where does the Hong Kong orchid tree come from?
It was first discovered in Hong Kong around 1880, near Pok Fu Lam, and all known trees today are descended from that original plant. The tree does not grow in the wild and is only known from cultivation.
What does the Hong Kong orchid tree look like?
It is a medium-sized tree with thick, double-lobed leaves and large, orchid-shaped flowers that are purple to reddish-pink and have a sweet scent. The leaves are heart-shaped or butterfly-like.
How is the Hong Kong orchid tree used?
It is mainly planted for its decorative flowers and as a symbol of Hong Kong, appearing on the flag, coins, and public emblems. The leaves are also used as bookmarks for good luck in studies.
What does the Hong Kong orchid tree symbolise?
In Hong Kong, it stands for the region itself and is a symbol of wisdom and good fortune, especially in education. It is also the city flower of Chiayi in Taiwan.
How does the Hong Kong orchid tree reproduce?
Most trees are sterile and do not produce seeds, so they are propagated by grafting cuttings onto rootstock. Rarely, a tree may produce seeds, but this is unusual.
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Unique project to sequence the genome of the Hong Kong bauhinia treeSouth China Morning Post, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bauhinia × blakeana", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
Others in the family Fabaceae
The whole family
Acacia
Shrubs and trees with golden or cream puffball flowers, native mostly to Australia
🇦🇺 Australia and 6 more · Wildflower
Sensitive PlantMimosa pudica
A touch-sensitive plant whose leaves fold up when disturbed
🇧🇷 Brazil and 8 more · Wildflower
Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia
A tall, fragrant-flowered tree native to eastern North America
🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Flowering tree
LupinLupinus
Tall, spiky-flowered legumes grown for gardens, food, and soil health
🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Wildflower
More from Hong Kong
All the flowers of Hong Kong
Chinese LilyLilium brownii
A wild and cultivated lily from China with edible bulbs
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower
AzaleaRhododendron
Shade-loving flowering shrubs with spring blooms and thousands of cultivated forms
🇺🇸 United States and 4 more · Flowering shrub
Bauhinia
A tropical tree with butterfly-shaped flowers in vivid colours
🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Flowering tree
Hong Kong CamelliaCamellia hongkongensis
A rare camellia tree from Hong Kong with red flowers
🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 1 more · Flowering tree