Cherry blossom-like flowers bloom in S'pore on Trumpet Trees & Pink Mempat trees

Singapore's own sakura season.

Sumita Thiagarajan | September 02, 2020, 03:24 PM

With recent changes in weather, various species of trees in Singapore are blooming across the island.

One reason that plants are flowering could be attributed to the changes in weather, such as dry spells followed by rain.

The species that have been observed to be flowering recently were shared in a Facebook post by Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee.

Trumpet Tree at Jalan Kembangan

Photo by Jasmine Koh/NParks

According to the National Parks Board's website, the Trumpet Tree can grow up to 25 metres tall, and produces flowers that range in colour, from white to pink.

The fruits are long pods, and these split open to disperse winged seeds.

This species usually blooms around April and August, usually after a dry spell.

Trumpet Trees along the Singapore River near Kim Seng road

Photo by Andrew Tau/NParks

When the flowers of the Trumpet Tree fall to the ground, they usually form a beautiful carpet of flowers around the tree.

Pink Mempat tree at Fort Canning Park

Photo by Jasmine Koh/NParks

Photo by Clarice Xue/NParks

According to Lee's Facebook post, the Pink Mempat is a native species that was planted by our founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew in 1963, to mark the start of Singapore's nation-wide tree planting campaign.

NParks said the Pink Mempat can grow up to 45m in the wild.

When it blooms, its crown is covered with light pink, fairly fragrant flowers which measure up to 2.5cm.

These flowers are usually found in clusters of six or fewer.

The tree is the preferred food plant for caterpillars of the Archduke butterfly (Lexias pardalis dirteana) and adults lay their eggs on the underside of its leaves.

Derum tree along Woodlands Ave 3

Photo by Tee Swee Ping/NParks

Photo by Tee Swee Ping/NParks

The derum tree (or Kayu Arang) is a native species, that can grow up to 30m in height, but rarely beyond 10m in height in urban environments in Singapore, according to NParks.

The flowers are faintly fragrant with flowers which can be red, pink, or even pinkish yellow.

The Kayu Arang is a host plant for the caterpillars of the Archduke, Common Grass Yellow, and Short Banded Sailor butterflies.

Yellow Flame tree along Woodlands Ave 3

Photo by Tee Swee Ping/NParks

Photo by Tee Swee Ping/NParks

According to NParks' website, the Yellow Flame tree grows up to 20m in height.

A popular choice for roadside planting, the species is drought-resistant, and well suited our climate.

The yellow flowers are about 3cm in size, and have wavy, crinkled petals that resemble tissue paper.

After the tree has flowered, the flower turn into woody purple-brown fruit pods that stay on the tree for several months before dropping off.

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Top images by Jasmine Koh/NParks