Bauhinia tomentosa flowers

Bauhinia tomentosa, the yellow bauhinia or in Afrikaans the bosbeesklou produces bell-shaped yellow flowers. They have dark maroon patches in the base of each corolla cup.

Flowers are about 7 cm long. Flowering occurs from summer into autumn, followed by a slender velvety pod.

The yellow bauhinia makes a rewarding garden subject. Normally deciduous, the plant can in favourable conditions of mild climates be evergreen. Grown from seed the plants are fast-growing, not frost-resistant when young.

The Bauhin brothers after whom this genus of twin-leaved plants has been named, were 16th century herbalists... and twins (www.plantzafrica.com).