Pink trumpet tree
Handroanthus impetiginosus, family Bignoniaceae
A tall South American tree with pink trumpet-shaped flowers
The pink trumpet tree is a large deciduous tree native from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, best known for its showy pink or magenta tubular flowers that appear before the new leaves. It is widely planted for its ornamental value and is the national tree of Paraguay, with its inner bark traditionally used in herbal teas.
- National tree of Paraguay
- Flowers are pink or magenta, rarely white
- Blooms July to September in the southern hemisphere
- Inner bark used in traditional herbal tea
- Overharvesting for timber threatens wild populations
What does Pink trumpet tree look like?
The pink trumpet tree is a large, slow-growing deciduous tree that can reach up to 30 meters in height, with a thick trunk and a broad but often sparse canopy. Its leaves are palmately compound, usually with five leaflets, and the bark is tough and brownish-grey. The tree produces large, tubular flowers that are most often pink or magenta, though rarely white, about 5 cm long. These flowers appear in clusters before the new leaves, making the tree stand out when in bloom.
Where does Pink trumpet tree come from?
Handroanthus impetiginosus grows wild from northern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina. It is native to Brazil and widespread in Paraguay, where it is the national tree. The tree is found scattered in forests rather than in dense stands. Its popularity as an ornamental tree has led to its planting in parks and streets in other countries, including India. The tree is also known in the timber trade as ipê, and its wood is valued for its toughness.
When and how Pink trumpet tree blooms
In the southern hemisphere, the pink trumpet tree flowers from July to September, before new leaves appear. It grows slowly and prefers warm climates. The tree is propagated from seeds, which are contained in long, narrow capsules that split open when mature. The wood is very hard and resistant to weather, making it suitable for outdoor structural uses.
How Pink trumpet tree is used
The pink trumpet tree is widely planted for its striking flowers in gardens, public spaces, and along streets. It is the national tree of Paraguay. The inner bark is used in traditional medicine, often boiled to make a bitter tea called lapacho or taheebo. The tree is also important as a honey plant and is harvested for its durable timber, though overharvesting has led to concerns about its survival in the wild.
Kinds of Pink trumpet tree
The pink trumpet tree is one of several species in the Handroanthus genus, all of which are recognized as Paraguay's national tree. Its flowers can occasionally be white, though pink and magenta are most common. The tree is sometimes confused with other Handroanthus species, but it is distinguished by its particular flower color and blooming season.
What Pink trumpet tree means
Handroanthus impetiginosus is a symbol of Paraguay, where it is the national tree. Its impressive flowering is celebrated in public spaces and gardens. The inner bark has a long history of use in South American traditional medicine. However, the main active compound, lapachol, is toxic in certain doses, and the tree is now threatened by overharvesting for timber, raising concerns about its conservation.
Where to see Pink trumpet tree
Questions people ask about Pink trumpet tree
Where does the pink trumpet tree come from?
The pink trumpet tree is native to a wide area from northern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina, with a strong presence in Brazil and Paraguay.
What does the pink trumpet tree look like?
It is a large deciduous tree with a thick trunk, a broad canopy, and palmately compound leaves. Its showy, tubular flowers are usually pink or magenta and appear before the new leaves.
What is the pink trumpet tree used for?
It is planted as an ornamental tree in gardens and public spaces, used as a honey plant, and its inner bark is made into traditional herbal tea. Its wood is also used for outdoor structures.
Is the pink trumpet tree important in any country?
Yes, it is the national tree of Paraguay and is widely recognized and planted in several countries for its ornamental value.
Is the pink trumpet tree threatened?
Yes, heavy logging for timber has led to concerns about overharvesting and the depletion of wild populations.
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 impetiginosus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Handroanthus impetiginosus", 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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