Bauhinias In Bloom: Where and When to See Hong Kong's National Flower

The bauhinia flower, particularly the Bauhinia blakeana, holds a special place in the heart of Hong Kong, serving as the city's official flower and a symbol of its unique identity. This striking flower is not only visually captivating but also plays a significant role in the cultural and historical landscape of Hong Kong.

The Bauhinia blakeana is a hybrid species that is a cross between the Purple Camel's Foot (Bauhinia purpurea) and the Camel's Foot Tree (Bauhinia variegata), making it unique to the region. However, it is important to note that this species is sterile and cannot reproduce naturally; propagation must be done through artificial means such as grafting.

Due to its inability to reproduce sexually, all existing Bauhinia blakeana trees are clones of the original tree brought to Hong Kong in the 1880s. The only way to propagate this species is through vegetative methods such as grafting and rooting cuttings. Each Bauhinia blakeana tree in Hong Kong is therefore genetically identical to the first tree, effectively making them all clones of that original specimen.

The widespread presence of Bauhinia blakeana in Hong Kong can be attributed to its discovery and propagation in the late 19th century. When asked about the origins of Bauhinia blakeana, Kwan Hoi-shan, who is a key member of the Bauhinia Genome project said, “Back in the 1880s, when Hong Kong was still a British colony, French Catholic missionary and plant collector Jean-Marie Delavay chanced upon a Bauhinia blakeana plant close to a shore near by Pok Fu Lam while hiking."

A cutting was first nurtured at Béthanie, a sanitorium operated by the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Eventually, another cutting was relocated to the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens, where it was officially recorded and named Bauhinia blakeana by botanist Stephen Troyte Dunn in 1908. The name pays tribute to both the 17th-century botanist brothers Gaspar and Jean Bauhin, as well as Sir Henry Blake, a former governor of Hong Kong with a strong passion for botany.

In its early years, Bauhinia blakeana was a rarity in Hong Kong. Its popularity began to grow after a specimen in the Botanical Gardens withstood a devastating typhoon in 1906, proving its resilience. From 1914 onward, the tree began to be widely cultivated for decorative purposes. Thanks to efforts from both government agencies and private landowners, the species spread rapidly, and today, tens of thousands can be seen throughout Hong Kong.

Genetic studies suggest that the hybridization event that gave rise to Bauhinia blakeana likely occurred between 120 and 170 years ago, based on its approximate 50-year lifespan. Though not native to the region, the species has become a prominent and cherished part of Hong Kong’s urban and cultural environment.

Hong Kong is home to several species of bauhinia, with six common ones identified:

Native Species:

• Bauhinia glauca: This liana species is native to Hong Kong and is commonly found on hillsides and stream-sides, producing dense, fragrant inflorescences.
• Bauhinia championii: Another native liana species, it has white to cream-colored flowers and grows naturally in similar habitats as B. glauca.

Exotic Species:

• Bauhinia blakeana: Although considered the emblem of Hong Kong, B. blakeana is not native but rather a hybrid species discovered in Hong Kong (it is a cross between Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegata). It is widely cultivated and distributed throughout the city.
• Bauhinia purpurea: Originally from Guangdong province and Malaysia, this tree species is widely cultivated in Hong Kong.
• Bauhinia variegata: Also from Guangdong province and Malaysia, this species is commonly found in cultivated areas of Hong Kong.
• Bauhinia corymbosa: This liana species is not native to Hong Kong and is less common compared to B. glauca.

The Bauhinia blakeana, commonly known as the Hong Kong orchid tree, is renowned for its large, vibrant flowers that bloom in various shades of striking purple-pink. Each flower typically features five petals with a wavy texture, making them super easy to identify. The leaves are distinctive as well, resembling the shape of a rounded heart, which adds to the tree's unique aesthetic appeal

Here is a summary of when each bauhinia species in Hong Kong blooms:

• Bauhinia purpurea: Blooms from September to January. The flowers can range in color from pale pink to violet.
• Bauhinia blakeana: Has the longest flowering season, blooming from September to April-June, approximately 8-10 months and has vibrant pink-purple flowers.
• Bauhinia variegata: Blooms from late December to April. The petals are purple, tinged with red and yellow
• Bauhinia corymbosa: Flowers first in late spring. It has smaller petals with the upper petal overlapping the lateral ones, and the androecium and gynoecium are deep pink
• Bauhinia glauca: Blooms in early summer. It produces dense, fragrant inflorescences with white petals and pink lines.
• Bauhinia championii: Blooms in late summer. It has white to cream-colored flowers.

These flowering periods allow for a staggered display of bauhinia blooms throughout the year in Hong Kong.

Bauhinia trees can be found throughout Hong Kong, particularly in parks and public gardens. Some notable locations where you can admire these beautiful flowers include (click on any of the below spots to get its exact location on Google Maps):

• Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
• Hong Kong Park
• Tai Po Market MTR Station
• Fanling MTR Station
• Chai Wan Park
• Lai Chi Kok Park
• Tin Shui Wai Park
• Quarry Bay Park
• Kowloon Tsai Park

You can find Bauhinias all over Hong Kong, so keep your eyes peeled as various species are in bloom all year round!

In 1987, a design competition was launched to create the flag and emblem for Hong Kong’s future Special Administrative Region. Hon Bing-wah, a respected artist and judge in the competition, recalled the difficulty of selecting a design from 7,000 submissions that could symbolize the complex idea of “One Country, Two Systems.” Many proposed symbols were rejected for being culturally or politically sensitive.

Ultimately, the judges chose the Bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong’s official flower since 1965, due to its neutrality and local significance. To distinguish it from existing uses, the flower was stylized with spiral petal arrangements inspired by Chinese art, symbolizing vitality and progress. Each petal contains a star referencing the national flag of China, symbolizing Hong Kong's connection to the mainland.

After three years of refinement, the design was approved in 1990 and offically replaced the colonial flag in 1997. Since then, the bauhinia (specifically Bauhinia blakeana) has appeared on coins, banknotes, and in cultural works, reinforcing its deep-rooted connection to Hong Kong’s identity.

The bauhinia flower was first used on Hong Kong currency in 1993, four years before the territory's return to China in 1997. Coins in seven denominations, ranging from 10 cents to 10 dollars, were minted with the Bauhinia blakeana to replace images of British monarchs. Subsequently, the Bank of China (Hong Kong) featured the bauhinia, along with other flowers, on its banknotes ranging from HK$20 to HK$1,000.

The bauhinia was chosen because it does not hold any political connotation, making it an appropriate and neutral symbol for the transition of sovereignty during Hong Kong's handover period.