The ipê trees of Brasília in the dry season

What it is

The ipê is a tree of the Brazilian savanna, the cerrado, and the yellow ipê is widely treated as Brazil's national flower. It drops its leaves in the dry season and then covers its bare branches in trumpet-shaped flowers. Brasília, the modernist capital built in the cerrado, has planted them in great numbers along its wide road axes and between its apartment blocks. They flower in a known order. Purple and pink ipês begin around June and July. The yellow ones follow in August and September and are the most admired. White ipês come last, for only a few days. The grass is brown and the sky is deep blue.

Before you go

• August is the best single month, with yellow ipês at their height.
• Each tree flowers for only a week or so. Local news and social media track where they are open.
• The air is extremely dry at this time. Drink a lot of water.

The flowers you will see

HandroanthusShowy-flowered trees from Central and South America, valued for timber and ornamentGolden trumpet treeA yellow-flowered tree and national plant of BrazilPink trumpet treeA tall South American tree with pink trumpet-shaped flowers

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HandroanthusShowy-flowered trees from Central and South America, valued for timber and ornament

More in Brazil

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