Bauhinia tomentosa, commonly known as Yellow Bell Orchid Tree, is a deciduous or semi-deciduous shrub native to the savannas and open woodlands of southern Africa. It typically grows to a height of 4 m (13 ft) and features drooping slender branches with multiple scrambling stems. The bark is greyish, smooth, and sometimes hairy, which gives its specific name tomentosa. The leaves are distinctive, being deeply divided and elliptic in nature with an entire margin, resembling a camel’s foot or butterfly wings. Flowers are showy, bell-shaped with large, yellow petals and a dark maroon patch at the base, blooming from summer to early autumn. The fruit is a pale-brown pod that adds to the plant’s ornamental value.

The Yellow Bell Orchid Tree is valued for its beautiful, fragrant flowers and its ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is used in tropical and subtropical gardens for border planting, as a specimen plant, or for informal screening. It thrives in full sun, requiring medium amounts of water and well-drained soil. While it is relatively low-maintenance, it may need protection from frost in cooler climates. Pruning can be done to maintain its shape and promote denser foliage.CC BY-SA 4.0