The Flowering of Gulmohar/ Flame of Forest

The Close up of Gulmohar Flower

The Gulmohar Tree better known by many as the flame of the forest. Its origin is from foreign country though this tree has adapted itself well to the Indian climatic conditions. Many gulmohar trees can be seen on roads and come summer the trees are laden with red flowers. The view is very beautiful especially if you can see it from above or far off. The red flowers look like a sheet of red covered over the green leaves of the tree.

Having a dream of planting Gulmohar hardly did I know that it grows into a beautiful huge tree. My success in growing a gulmohar in a container was all well worth when the plant bloomed and gave red flowers, The green tall tree branch transformed  into beautiful red bursts of colour this May.

Buds at Night on Gulmohar Tree

The Opening of First Bud on Gulmohar Tree

Close Up of Gulmohar Flower

 The flower is very beautiful with a red and orange coloured single petal. and red petals. There are five petals and each flower is a master piece created by God. You wonder how the detailed colouring is done and how minute the leaf seems. Many artists are inspired by the gulmohar flower and paint using this as a reference for floral paintings.

Beautiful Gulmohar Flowers
Very famously known as 'the Red Flame of the Forest' this is a very strong, tough tree.

The plant flowering had become a rarity. Planting this for many years I had lost hope to see any blooms on it. Finally My Husband and I had decided to let go of this Gulmohar plant if this does not bloom this year, and what a wonderful sight it was to see the small buds erupt from nowhere!
Vigorous searching on the internet and googling did not show any tips for flowering of the gulmohar. Guess it is natural process and one never thinks twice to observe the trees and they bloom naturally on their own. After five years this plant has bloomed. The maturity period of any gulmohar tree would be five years and then it will flower. In this period the plant has shed its leaves many times. The whole tree would go barren and only the stem would remain. Again the tiny leaves would emerge. I had trimmed the tall branches to keep the plant in reasonable size as I have heard that Gulmohar grows into huge trees.
Tips for Growing in Container: Keep trimming the tall part to encourage growth sideways. My gulmohar plant has two big stems and small branches. Watering requirements are like any other flowering plant and they can tolerate direct sunlight. If you want to see the flowers and enjoy the beauty of red and orange colour flowers wait for five years!

Close Up of Gulmohar Flower

Gulmohar in the Sun

New Buds of Gulmohar

With immense joy the vermilion coloured blooms boastfully sway and give a great show from above, as I see helicopters coming by over our terrace, it is almost like a magical fantasy! There is magic in my little space under the sun! my Terrace garden!
Interesting posts on Rizwana's Garden Care Simplified Blog-
Cinderella story say it with flowers!
How my Gulmohar bloomed step by step photographs
First Gulmohar blooms and making natural colours
The sleeping leaves of Gulmohar! do plants sleep?

Happy Gardening from Rizwana! Sharing practical container gardening tips with my Google Blog Garden Care Simplified since year 2010 to encourage growing plants, improving the eco system and environment and adding fragrances and colours through exotic flowers in your life!

All the Best from Rizwana!

A Healing Artist selling original Reiki healing art @ The Red Pilgrim's Soul Perk^Up Healing Art , You Tuber The Red Pilgrim Dedicated since year 2000 towards spreading health wealth and joy through my Reiki symbol healing paintings!