El Árbol de Flamboyán in Puerto Rico
Árbol de Flamboyán in Puerto Rico - Photo: George Collazo ©
Árbol de Flamboyán
El árbol de flamboyán is featured in many Dominican and Puerto Rican paintings. The town of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, located about 12 miles or 19 kilometers west of Ponce, is nicknamed “El Valle de los Flamboyánes” (“The Valley of the Poinciana Trees”), as many flamboyant trees are found along the surrounding Río Guayanes, Río Macana, and Río Tallaboa.
El Fámboyán, known as The Flame of the Forest tree, and Delonix regia, is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Madagascar. It’s noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of orange-red flowers over summer. In many tropical parts of the world, it is grown as an ornamental tree.
This tree symbolizes pride, hope, and rest for Puerto Ricans. It’s also known as the flame tree, peacock flower, and Gulmohar. It produces large, fiery red or golden blooms that blossom from spring through summer. This fast-growing, deciduous tree develops fern-like foliage and takes on a natural umbrella shape.
El Flamboyán Tree is also known as “Flame Tree” or “Poinciana”.
Throughout the Island of Puerto Rico, the beautiful Flamboyán tree is an umbrella of shade in full bloom (January to May). Its brilliant red flowers and yellow stamens are nestled along the massive branches, in the comfort of lacy leaves. Flamboyán trees with yellow flowers are more abundant on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Very rare but still available is the blue Flamboyán. Seeds for the African Tulip and Red Flamboyán can be found online.
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