5 Natal Bauhinia Tree Seeds ~ Bauhinia natalensis Seeds- Indigenous Shrub

Bauhinia natalensis Seeds

Natal Bauhinia, Natalsebeesklou

This is a versatile, dainty shrub with butterfly-shaped leaves and pretty, white, maroon-striped flowers. This lovely ornamental, rounded shrub is relatively fast growing and within a few years reaches its mature size of 2.5 x 3 m. The distinctively butterfly-like leaves consist of two rounded, almost completely divided, nearly semi-circular lobes and in Bauhinia natalensis are delightful miniatures, being much smaller than any of the other South African species. White, lightly fragrant, delicate, azalea-like flowers are borne in profusion-this plant can be almost completely covered with flowers for a long period throughout summer from November to April. The slightly crinkly oval flower petals are made all the more attractive by one of the petals having a red or deep pink centre stripe. The next two petals each a have a lighter, thinner stripe and the other two are plain white. The small fruit pods, 70 x 100 mm, are golden brown with pointed tips, borne from January to June; they split open when ripe, scattering the brown seeds. The Afrikaans common name beesklou (cattle foot) is applied to most of the bauhinias and refers to the resemblance of the leaf to the footprint of cloven-hoofed animals. An interesting feature of this plant is that the leaves are adapted to close in response to reduced light. The great combination of foliage, flowers and the growth habit of Bauhinia natalensis offers makes it a plant with exceptional horticultural potential for any garden.