It is March in Bengaluru – that time of the year when the city’s greenery shrivels under the unforgiving sun. As if to brace themselves for the hot summer months ahead, most trees in the garden city are shedding old leaves and donning new, fresh, foliage. Thankfully, not all Bengaluru trees shun the summer’s sun and the Tabebuia trees are a classic example. Between February and March, these trees replace old foliage with a riotous bloom of yellow!

Have you noticed Tabebuia trees as you travel past the city? You cannot miss a group of these yellow beauties, basking in the hot sun, next to the Government Museum on Kasturba road.

These yellow show-stoppers are not just limited to Kasturba road – popular clusters of Tabebuias stud parks and roads around Chinnaswamy stadium, Windsor Manor, and Cauvery Circle, as well.

From a distance, it is difficult to recognize that Tabebuia flowers are in fact shaped like trumpets and that they grow in clusters!

This is why Tabebuia trees are commonly known as Trumpet trees. Also, not all Tabebuias have yellow blooms – some are pink but are not as alluring as their yellow cousins!

Interestingly, these Trumpet trees that grow lusciously in Bengaluru are foreign not just to the city but also to India! They are natives of South America and bloom for a very short period between February and March.

Soon, the yellow of the Tabebuias will have competition from the glaring red of the Gulmohars! What a wonderful way for Bengaluru to welcome the festival of colors, Holi!