Also known as the Golden shower or rain tree, Cassia fistula is the most prominent cassia native to the Indian Subcontinent. It is a great source of herbal medicine as well as a very popular for ornamental purposes. During the summertime, this tree blooms full of its golden yellow, mildly scented flowers.
Famous in the state of Maharashtra where it is known as Tamhan, this tree has showy mauve flowers which bloom from April to May and July to August. They grow about 30 cm panicles at the end of the branches and are considered in Buddhism.
This tree-type has predominantly 2 species – B purpura and B variegate, both of which can be planted in gardens. They are famous for their beauty and fragrance as they are blessed with large and scented flowers that are coloured rosy, purple, lilac, dark pink or white.
A unique, tall, thorny and shady tree due to its red colour and long bloom period except for January to February. During this period, it sheds all the leaves and bears crimson or red flowers in clusters. Its also acts as a resting place for many birds during the flowering season for its nectar.
It is also known as the flame of the forest or Palash, with very large flowers almost resembling a parrot’s beak and has very few leaves. The tree is of dry deciduous type which blooms with flowers in spring which are used to extract colour for the Holi celebrations.
This tree, though small, grows fast with red ornamental spiny stem and branches. The tree flowers during the end of winter before the onset of spring from February to March in scarlet red clusters. It is useful as a herbal medicine and popular ornamental plant.
Saraca Asoca also know as the Ashoka tree in India is a rain forest tree which forms a beautiful foliage with fragrant flowers. It holds a great cultural importance in the Indian Subcontinent. The bright orange flowers are borne on roundish panicles during the summer season.
This tree is popular as, though small and shrubby in nature, the sweet scent of the flowers is quite attractive. The pretty white petals with an orange tube in the centre which open at night & start falling on ground at daybreak. Its flowering season is from autumn to winter.
This, also known as the buttercup tree, is a small branching deciduous tree which flowers in February-March. It is quite striking that in a leafless condition, the golden yellow flowers bloom in terminal clusters and hence useful in landscaping.
This tree with hanging white flowers, is quite aptly called “latak chandni”, is a quick growing, tall evergreen tree with attractive foliage. Though native of Burma, this is now considered evergreen in India too. The trumpet-shaped, silvery white flowers with a rosy tinge, are well scented particularly at night. Women in Maharashtra commonly use these flowers to weave into their hair.
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Mudita Khanna (mudita.khanna@gmail.com) has contributed to this article.