Anacacho Orchid Tree
Bauhinia lunarioides
A charming small tree with delicate orchid-like white and pink blooms that draw bees and butterflies to the garden.
Hardy to about 15°F in low and mid desert; drops leaves and may suffer tip damage in hard frost but recovers reliably.
AMWUA Notes
Low water use; drought tolerant once established and reblooms after summer rains.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every two weeks in summer once established; drought tolerant and undemanding.
Prune in late winter to shape the multi-trunk form and remove suckers; can be kept shrubby or trained as a small tree.
A light spring feeding is optional; as a legume it needs little.
Essentially pest-free.
White-and-pink orchid-like flowers in spring and summer, often reblooming after rain; deciduous in cold winters.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining rocky, limestone, or decomposed-granite soil; thrives in alkaline caliche pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Grown from scarified seed or semi-hardwood cuttings
8–10 ft
Modest, non-invasive roots; safe near pools, patios, and courtyards
Placement Tips
- •Small multi-trunk tree (about 8 ft wide) perfect for patios, courtyards, and entry gardens.
- •Thornless and low-litter, safe close to pools and seating areas.
- •Site in a warm spot with full to part sun; avoid cold low pockets where hard frost damages it.
- •Leave the graceful multi-trunk form to show off the pale bark, or limb up as a small specimen.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Anacacho Orchid Tree? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Anacacho Orchid Tree. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.