Bauhinia tomentosa is a hardy, fast growing, drought resistant, deciduous, scandent shrub with deeply lobed leaves, like butterfly wings.
It bears masses of lemon yellow, bell-like flowers with a purple blotch at the base of one petal and flowers throughout summer.
Plant in full sun or partial shade. Plant in a mixed shrubbery or as an informal hedge, it also looks good in a container.
It is the host plant to the Orange Barred Playboy butterfly the larvae of which feed on the seeds.
It also attracts pollinating insects, which in turn draw insectivorous birds. The leaves and flowers are extensively used by traditional healers.
Size 2 to 4m