When the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistulata L. 1753), also called Golden Rain Tree, blooms with the beginning of the hot season at Thai New Year (Songkran) in mid April, our home city Chiang Mai, North Thailand get dipped in a blaze of colours. Spectacular yellow flowers from the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistulata), orange colour from the impressive Flamboyant (Delonix regia) and purple colour from the Banaba Tree (Lagerstroemia speciosa). The breath-taking scenery is complemented by a lot of other flowers and flowering vines. The Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistulata) is the national tree of the tropical kingdom of Thailand, as the yellow colour represents Royality and Buddhism. In Thailand this impressive flowering tree is called Ton Ratchaphruek and the horticultural Exposition in Chiang Mai, North Thailand, primarily held in 2006,
Royal Flora Ratchaphruek has been named after this tropical tree.

The Golden Shower Tree is native to India and is also state flower of Kerala in South India, where its called Kanikkonna. As the seeds are toxic, other parts of the tropical plant, which belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae) are used in nature medicine, especially in Ayurvedic medicine. The fast growing tree reach heights of about 20 meters,
single flowers get a size of about 7 cm across.

© Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula)

© Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula)