Kanchan
Bauhinia variegata
Kanchan is a small tree with distinctive two-lobed leaves and orchid-like pink, purple or white flowers in late winter and spring. The flower buds (kachnar) are cooked as a vegetable in north India.
Photo: Peter1968 at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water young trees regularly; established trees tolerate dry spells.
Soil
Most well-drained soils; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
0–42 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed with compost once a year.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, air layering
Shape after flowering and remove crossing branches.
The flower buds are eaten as a vegetable. Not known to be toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Seedlings flower in 3–4 years.
Pick unopened buds for cooking.
Good for small gardens.
White form is very elegant.
Common problems
Caterpillars
The larvae of moths and butterflies, which chew holes in leaves, flowers and fruit and can strip a plant in days.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →
