The Graceful Orchid Tree of the Tropics

At first glance, the Bauhinia forficata looks like it belongs in a tropical orchid garden but it’s actually a tree. Native to South America, especially Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, this beauty is famous for its pure white, orchid-like blooms that unfurl like elegant handkerchiefs in the breeze. Its flowers carry a quiet dignity, their delicate petals often kissed with faint veins that catch the morning light.