Pink trumpet tree
Handroanthus heptaphyllus, family Bignoniaceae
A South American tree with pink to white trumpet-shaped flowers
The pink trumpet tree is a tall tree from South America, found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It grows in wet lowland forests and is known for its showy pink, purple, or white tubular flowers that bloom before the leaves appear. The tree is valued for decoration in parks and is Paraguay's national tree.
- National tree of Paraguay
- Flowers bloom before the leaves in spring
- Grows in wet lowland forests of South America
- Flowers can be pink, purple, or white
- Wood is hard and weather-resistant
What does Pink trumpet tree look like?
The pink trumpet tree can grow up to 40 meters tall, though some botanists describe it as reaching up to 15 meters. Its bark is brown-gray and deeply cracked. The leaves are arranged in a palmate pattern, each with 5 to 7 elliptical, serrated leaflets. Before the leaves appear, the tree produces clusters of tubular flowers in shades of bright pink, pale pink, purple, or sometimes white. The fruit is a long, narrow brown pod that splits open to release many winged seeds.
Where does Pink trumpet tree come from?
This tree is native to the tropical and subtropical lowlands of South America, especially in Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It grows naturally in wet, deep soils along the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay rivers, forming part of the upper forest canopy. Its distribution is limited to areas with specific light and humidity. The tree is also known as Handroanthus heptaphyllus and has sometimes been confused with related species.
When and how Pink trumpet tree blooms
The pink trumpet tree flowers in early spring, with blooms starting in September. Flowers appear before the leaves, making the display more striking. The tree is grown from seed, which must be sown quickly as seeds lose their ability to sprout after about two weeks. Each pod can contain up to 150 winged seeds. White-flowered forms are often propagated by grafting.
How Pink trumpet tree is used
People plant the pink trumpet tree in parks, squares, and public spaces for its decorative flowers. Its hard, weather-resistant wood is used for construction, such as beams, docks, and floors. Sawdust, bark, and leaves are used in traditional medicine. The tree is a national symbol of Paraguay.
Kinds of Pink trumpet tree
Some trees produce white flowers, called 'white lapachos', which are propagated by grafting. The species is sometimes mistaken for Handroanthus impetiginosus, but differs in tree height and leaf size. Flower color can range from pink to purple or white.
What Pink trumpet tree means
The pink trumpet tree is the national tree of Paraguay, chosen for the country's bicentenary. It is valued for its beauty and presence in public spaces. The tree is also noted for its strong wood and traditional uses, but its main cultural role is as a symbol of national pride.
Questions people ask about Pink trumpet tree
Where does the pink trumpet tree come from?
The pink trumpet tree is native to tropical and subtropical lowlands of South America, especially in Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It grows in wet soils along major rivers such as the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
What does the pink trumpet tree look like?
It is a tall tree with rough, cracked bark and palmate leaves. Before the leaves appear, it produces clusters of tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. The fruit is a long brown pod filled with winged seeds.
When does the pink trumpet tree flower?
The pink trumpet tree flowers in early spring, with blooms starting in September. The flowers appear before the leaves, making the tree especially noticeable at this time.
What is the pink trumpet tree used for?
It is planted in parks and public spaces for decoration. Its wood is used in construction, and parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine. It is also the national tree of Paraguay.
What does the pink trumpet tree symbolise?
The pink trumpet tree is a symbol of national pride in Paraguay, where it is the national tree. It is valued for its beauty and strength.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Handroanthus heptaphyllus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Handroanthus heptaphyllus", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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