Royal poinciana

Fiery red phượng blossoms open in May as the school year ends – for the Vietnamese it is the “students’ flower” and a symbol of farewells.

A tree growing to 10–15 m, with a broad, umbrella-shaped crown and delicate, bipinnate leaves resembling fern fronds. When in bloom the crown is covered in a mass of scarlet or orange-red flowers with five petals, one of which is larger, whitish-yellow and speckled. The fruits are flat, woody pods up to 60 cm long that hang on the tree for many months. The species comes from Madagascar but has spread throughout the tropics as an ornamental and shade tree.

Significance in the country

The phượng flowers from May to July, during exams and the summer holidays, which is why it is called the “students’ flower” (hoa học trò) and appears in countless songs and poems about school days. Haiphong prides itself on being the “city of red phượng flowers” and holds a festival in their honour every year.

Where it grows

Planted along streets, in parks and in schoolyards in towns throughout the country except in the highest mountains; the most famous phượng avenues are in Haiphong, Hanoi, Huế and Đà Nẵng.

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