Bauhinia acuminata 31 May - 22 Oct.

For months I have excitedly watched my little pots of seedlings. I planted two seeds of Dwarf White Orchid trees among other things, and was rewarded today with an open bloom and being able to put my nose into it to inhale the delicate, sweet, fresh scent. It smells clean, different. I like it. There are more buds waiting to open, joy oh joy for me. The first bud that was about to open never fully did, then the petals started falling off. What a disappointment. We have had lots of strong winds all day and night for several days now and that might have something to do with it. This second bloom opened right up and I was thrilled.

Growing from seed takes patience, but what wonderful elation when you finally are rewarded with a bloom. My other little tree is smaller, but now has buds on it too. The pictures below are a sequence since 31 May, until this morning. In the first picture the little seedling of this plant is in the foreground.

The following information is taken from here.

This unassuming plant produces fairly small, white flowers that look vaguely like snowflakes hanging on the branches, and it is sometimes called the snowy orchid tree. The leaves are easy to spot too, as they have a twin-lobed shape, a bit like an ox hoof.

The bauhinia acuminata, as those lovers of Latin like to call it, grows enthusiastically in full sun or in partial shade. It can grow in most well-drained, moist soils. Even sandy soils are fine, but give it plenty of water. With the right conditions, it will flower almost continually - it doesn't seem to get bored in this regard.

From here, is more info.

Bauhinia acuminata is a rarely seen true dwarf orchid tree.

Few Bauhinia (the family of all orchid trees) have any scent at all ...but there is a huge exception ... the fragrance of this Bauhinia acuminata is heavenly. A delicate and sweet perfume aroma perfectly matching this dwarf orchid tree's stature and delicacy

Flowers appear starting in spring ...then less ...then more, all months into early winter in zones 9 and 10. Winter months leaves are deciduous to semi-deciduous.

****

This little tree is well worth looking into for any of you who live in warmer climates.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL