Bauhinia Species, Dainty Bauhinia, Dainty Camelsfoot, Natal Bauhinia, Natal Neat's Foot

Bauhinia natalensis is a dainty shrub or very small tree native to South Africa that grows very slowly to between 6-8 feet tall. It is ...Read Moredrought-tolerant and will tolerate temperatures to the low-20s. It is cold tolerant in Zone 8b where I have seen it growing for years. Only a a severe record breaking winter in this zone would kill it. It is safer to grow it in Zone 9 and above.

The bark is a grey-brown. The 1 inch or so long leaves are bi-lobed (hence the name "dainty camelsfoot"), obliquely ovate-oblong to obovate and most are divided almost to the base. Its small fragrant blooms are white, often have pink midribs and usually appear solitarily. The obovate petals do not have crisped margins. Often only the male plant flowers and it is sporadically hermaphrodite. Although the blooms are small on this plant, they do show up and it gives an airy feel to the landscape. It can be used as a bonsai plant or can be planted in a large container. It would make a great background plant in a rock garden and as a specimen in a xeriscape or wildscape.

Update 2/4/08: The plant I loved seeing all the time was knocked down by a drunk driver. I really miss it.