The substantial amount of rain we received last week (substantial to us here in the desert anyways) was absolutely what the doctor ordered for all of the trees and plants in our yards after a long, hot, dry summer. Lets face it, a lot of our trees and plants need some special attention this time of year which makes last week’s rain even more important as we head into the Fall. The cooler nighttime temperatures and moist soil are optimal growing conditions for any tree or plant, especially one of our favorite flowering species, the Orchid tree (Bauhinia spp.)
These beautiful flowering trees are truly one-of-a-kind and produce some of the most vibrant, aroma rich flowers of any tree. One of our favorite aspects of this particular tree...they are very drought tolerant and are one of the most prolific flowering trees for warm weather climates. The flowering season for Orchids is rapidly approaching so planting now during the optimal planting conditions of the Fall will ensure that your new addition will grow to its full potential and bloom beautifully in the coming months.
Before you rush in to Moon Valley to get your hands on this beautiful flowering tree it’s important to know that there are several varieties of the Orchid, only two of which are suited for our desert climate. The vast popularity of this variety has caused some confusion and a number of varieties are often lumped together and simply referred to as the Hong Kong orchid. The two most popular varieties, and the only two that are sold in and do well in Arizona, are the Purple Orchid Tree (Bauhinia purpurea) and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana).
The most common Bauhinia is the Bauhini purpurea, or Purple Orchid. This orchid tree can be found sprinkled throughout the Valley and is one of the most variable of the species in terms of producing flowers in a vast range of shape and color. The Purple Orchid tree is the first of the Orchids to blossom (Mid to Late Fall) and produces clusters of fragrant, narrow petaled blooms that range in color from white to different shades of purple.
The other popular variety is the Bauhinia blakeana, which is the actual Hong Kong Orchid tree. This orchid tree produces big, six inch orchid flowers that range from dark red.magenta to purple. The rare and very sought after Orchid blossoms in the late fall and winter.
These popular Orchid varieties are perfect if you are looking to add a hardy, low maintenace flowering shade tree to your yard. Orchid trees are rapid growers that can grow up to 24 inches per year so planting now is perfect to ensure your new orchid reaches its full potential. Add beautiful winter color to your landscape with either of these varieties and be rewarded throughout the year. Stop in to any Moon Valley location and speak with a nursery pro about this tree and getting it planted in your yard today!
Keep all of your trees healthy with regular applications of Moon Dust fertilizer and Supercharged Moon Juice for maximum performance.