Ambta
Bauhinia racemosa
Outdoor Plants Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
Bauhinia racemosa (snake tree or ‘Ambta’ in Odia) is a small deciduous tree of the Fabaceae family. The characteristic bilobed leaves resemble a camel’s hoofprint — a hallmark of the Bauhinia genus. Cream-yellow flowers appear in short racemes in spring followed by pods. The tree is used in traditional medicine for skin diseases, and the leaves are used as plates in rural areas. Bark yields tannin and fiber.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
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Light
Full sun to partial shade
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Water
Regular; drought-tolerant once established
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Humidity
Moderate
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Temperature
15-35°C
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Soil
Well-draining loam; pH 6.0-7.5
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Fertilizer
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India, Sri Lanka
- 📏 Max height
- 5-10 m
- 📐 Spread
- 3-5 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring (cream-yellow flowers in racemes)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Cream-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Deciduous bilobed green leaves
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 30+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Caterpillar defoliation, leaf spot
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun. Prune after flowering. Tolerates poor soils.
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