Blossoms in Northern Thailand

February

The Orange Trumpet (Pyrostegia venusta Miers.) The orange trumpet blossoms from December through March and visitors can see this lovely display in gardens throughout Chiangmai. These brilliant orange flowers bloom on a vigorously climbing vine, which can grow to a height more than 40 feet. Gardeners must spend a great deal of energy to prevent the plant from overwhelming everything.

The Hibiscus (Hisbiscus Rosasinenesis L.)Originated in China and is also known as the Shoe Flower. The large shrubs will be covered with brilliant red, pink, or yellow flowers. Unusable as a cut flower it is still a common feature of landscape design in gardens throughout Chiangmai.

The Golden Shower (Cassia Fistula L.) The brilliant yellow flowers bud and bloom on a small tree that is native to Thailand. It is seen on the lowlands of Doi Suthep and decoratively planted lining roads. When it blooms it makes a beautiful display of yellow blossoms.

The Crinium (Crinium Asiaticus L.) This flower originated in North Asia but is found in Northern Thailand, especially in Chiangmai. It is a popular flower for gardens, and owners take pleasure when the infrequently blooming brilliant pink lily-like blossoms appear.

The Weeping Lantana (Lantana Camara) This is another plant that originated in the tropical Americas but is very common in Chiangmai. The small blossoms are multi-colored in a variety of hues. It is akin to a flowering weed as it grows on tall bushes quickly and spreads rapidly.

The Canna Lily (Canna Indica L.) This hardy flower likes very wet soil. It is found along the edges of ponds, or else villagers who have a canal running between their house and the road will plant at the edge where it grows by itself giving a colorful display in a variety of tints from yellow, to pink, to red.

The Chinese Ixora (Ixora Chinensis Lmk.) The origin of the flower's name is found in it's scientific name. Untended, it grows as a shrub, but if carefully pruned it makes an excellent hedgeplant decorated by the beautiful red-orange blossoms, and is most often seen in this form in Chiangmai.

The Damask or Common Rose (Rosa Damascena Mill.) Although not native to Thailand, the rose has become one of the commonest flowers in the city, gracing every garden and available in a variety of colors in cut flower markets. Gardeners' skills in grafting create exotic plants that could grace the most elegantly designed gardens.

The Peacock Flower (Ceasalpinia Pulcherrima(L)Swz) This small flower originated in the tropical areas of the Americas, but is common in the North. The way the petals and sweeping pistils and stamens imitate the spread wings and fanned tail of the male peacock in his mating dance is noteworthy.

The Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Parthenium.) This lovely bloom originated in Southern Europe. The smaller yellow and mixed sorts are commonest in Chiangmai gardens, but Royal Project efforts to provide profitable cash crops to the hill tribes have caused yellow pom-pom sorts and even the exotic spider mums to be seen sold as cut flowers.