St. Thomas Tree
Bauhinia tomentosa
- Native to:
- Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
J.M.Garg
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Bauhinia
- Species:
- Bauhinia tomentosa
- USDA Symbol:
- BATO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub , Tree
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers nutrient-rich soils in native habitat
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard seed coat requiring scarification by hot water treatment or mechanical abrasion. Germination improved with warm temperatures.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI