Bauhinia

Doesn't this flower look like a wreath that you like to hang on your door at Christmas time?

My parents grew this tropical vine like you would grow the wisteria. They had the vine from the downstairs garden, and trained it to climb upstairs and twirl on the balustrade. Besides having beautiful orangy-red flowers, the luscious leaves made the balcony very cool for us.

We were in the house 4 years, may be that was how old the plant was. Then Dad got a transfer. It brought our hearts when he chopped the vine down. Dad said the tenants might not take care, and it's profusely growing might ruin the house.

It is also called the Red Trailing Bauhinia, Bauhinia kochiana, and is often also called the "Orchid Tree". They bloom through out the year. It loves full sun, moderate watering and the occasional fertilizing.