The Stunning Cherry Blossoms in May ─ Pink Shower Tree

How could cherry blossoms still flower in the low altitude area of southern Taiwan in May? It’s so wired! Their flowers are much larger than cherry blossoms in close view, and the structure are also similar to the yellow flowers of golden shower trees. Oh ！ So they are not cherry blossoms. They are the new ornamental trees called ‘pink shower tree’ or ‘Thailand Sakura’. The trees are native in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region and prefer hot environment. In Taiwan, their flower phase is from March to May. Because that the trees are filled with pink flowers lasted almost until May, they are so called “pink shower tree” by some landscape industries (Fig. 1).

Pink shower tree is classified into the Family Caesalpiniaceae and genus Cassia and is a deciduous ornamental tree. The flower structure is extremely similar to its close relatives such as sunshine tree, kassod tree, and golden shower tree, but its color is brilliant pink. The whole tree hanging with pink flowers is so beautiful. From any point of view, the flowers with five pink petals and five dark red sepals are like strings of stars or meteor showers (Fig.2). Because the climate in the low altitude area of southern Taiwan is hot, it is not suitable for the growth of cherry blossoms. Pink shower trees look like cherry blossoms at a distance and are very suitable for planting in the area of southern Taiwan. In addition, it is especially that their flower phase is just following the blossoms of Taiwan cherry, so they become the very popular ornamental trees in the central and southern areas of Taiwan in recent years.

Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station, COA indicates that the germination rate of the seeds took from the long cylindrical pods and sowed directly is low (Fig. 2) and could reach nearly 80% after treatments. In the last decade, the public place a high value on leisure tourisms. There is always an influx of people taking pictures in the flower viewing spots. It is obviously that either herbs or ornamental trees and shrubs have become the focus of attention by the masses. It also inspires the custom of large-scale ornamental tree planting in Taiwan.

Pink shower tree has brilliant flowers, and the flowering period is nearly 45 days. It is very suitable for planting in the central and southern areas of Taiwan for ornamental purpose. We hope that the trees with falling pink petals will bring you an encounter with romantic and blessed feelings from March to May every year.

▲Fig. 1 The whole tree filled with pink flowers ─ pink shower tree.
▲Fig. 2 The strings of pink flowers.		​​​​​​​▲Fig. 3 The seeds of pink shower tree.