Bauhinia variegata var. candida, commonly known as White Orchid Tree or Buddhist Bauhinia, is a striking deciduous to semi-evergreen flowering tree native to Southeast Asia. It produces large, fragrant, orchid-like white flowers and exhibits excellent seed germination rates (84-85%) when provided with proper warm temperature conditions (25-30°C). This species is relatively easy to propagate from seeds compared to other Bauhinia species.
Before sowing
Swollen seeds are sown immediately after soaking. Unswollen seeds should be gently scarified. Seed needs warm temperatures after sowing to germinate (75 degrees F or 24°C minimum).
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Maintain constant soil moisture during germination. Use well-draining substrate to prevent fungal issues. After germination, transplant seedlings into root trainers or pots to avoid disturbing the tap root. Keep seeds in warm location (75°F+) during germination. Germination is fastest at 25-30°C with T50 (time for 50% germination) of 5.5-6.0 days. Plant survival after 5 months in pots is typically 100% when seedlings are properly managed. Sow in early spring for best germination percentages.
Sources: Sheffield Seed Company, Rare Palm Seeds, ResearchGate (Akoumianaki-Ioannidou et al. 2004), MDPI Forests (2023), Thompson & Morgan, Plant Flower Seeds, EarthOne, Arizona State University Arboretum
