Pink trumpet flowers in Mumbai? Know more about the cherry blossom-like bloom

Mumbaikars no longer have to travel all the way to Japan to see the beautiful cherry blossoms as their desi version Tabebuia heterophylla also called the pink trumpet tree has finally bloomed in their city Covering stretches in the city with beautiful pink flowers this plant was introduced to India by the British for aesthetics These trees are also incredibly resilient perfect for being planted in Indian cities with harsh weather It is a tropical species that thrives in high heat humidity and pollutionheavy environments unlike the cherry blossom which thrives in temperate weatherVisuals of these flowers have gone viral on social media PICINSTAGRAMCHALATMUSAFIR_These pink beauties were in danger for a while as the MMRDA once planned to cut over 700 trees along the Eastern Express Highway to make a new elevated road connecting Ghatkopar to Thanersquos Anand Nagar After receiving this MMRDA proposal the BMC called for public feedback on this plan in October 2025 Online a petition to save these trees garnered more than 1600 signatures in a day and activists also participated in a symbolic Chipko Movementstyle protest On December 1 2025 MMRDA took to Threads to announce ldquoAfter consultations with experts and green activists the VikhroliGhatkopar stretch was realigned to save 127 pink trumpet treesrdquo and that 4175 new trees will be planted as compensatory green coverThese flowers have gone viral on social media as creators scramble to get their visuals before it gets too late Some Instagram Reels on these beautiful flowers have amassed millions of views with comments such as ldquoWhat a pleasant sight to see while passing through by busrdquo and ldquoMumbai has never looked more beautifulrdquolsquoThey grow even in dark and cold monthsrsquoBryan Jose Vikhroli residentBryan Jose 20 a resident of Vikhroli says he has fond memories of seeing pink trumpet flowers ldquoEver since the lockdown got lifted back in 2022 I started seeing these flowers bloom during the colder monthsrdquo he reminisces They bloom and are usually visible by December and are present on the Eastern Express Highway Finding a poetic meaning behind the beautiful flowers he says ldquoThese flowers make me feel a sense of resilience that even in the coldest and darkest months something bright and beautiful growsrdquo The proud Vikhrolikar also appreciated the special status of his neighbourhood which is known as the home of Mumbairsquos pink trumpet flowerslsquoThey remind me of new beginningsrsquoSaanvi Bhat Thane residentldquoWhen I was travelling by bus in the morning I saw them out from the window on the highway between Vikhroli and Ghatkoparrdquo says Saanvi Bhat 18 ldquoThey looked so pretty and there were so many people trying to take pictures It was all so beautifulrdquo According to her the blooming flowers remind her of new beginnings She goes on to say that everyone should experience it at least once and that itrsquos like seeing cherry blossoms without a visa in MumbailsquoIt opens at dawn falls off at duskrsquoVivek Pawar garden supervisor and horticulturalist The LalitThis tree is native to Central America South America and the Caribbean Because of its striking flowers and ability to thrive in warm climates it has been widely introduced to India as an ornamental treerdquo explains Vivek Pawar who volunteered at The National Society of The Friends of The Trees and is currently working at The Lalit ldquoClusters of three large funnelshaped flowers grow together When flowering the rosypink flowers make a beautiful sight The flower opens at dawn and falls off at dusk when one can see a carpet of pink flowers under the treerdquolsquoTelco had them 45 years agorsquoDebi Goenka environmentalistTalking about his relationship with these plants Debi Goenka says ldquoAround 45 years ago there was a lot of excitement as somebody got a couple of saplings The TELCO factory in Pimpri Chinchwad had a lot of these plants in their nursery I remember the forest department officer in Nashik wanted some for his garden and he sent a jeep to the factory to pick them up I actually helped facilitate thatrdquoDid you knowBritish botanists John Cameron and Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel introduced pink trumpets Tabebuia rosea or Tabebuia avellanedae native to South America to India during the 19th century They were brought to beautify cities particularly in Mysore Many were also planted in Bengaluru contributing to its lsquoGarden Cityrsquo legacyHerersquos why it feels at home in Mumbaigtgt thinspIt thrives in the warm climate mdash 20ndash38degC mdash typical of Mumbaigtgt thinspThese trees require little water to survive making them perfect for urban landscapes busy roads and medial stripsgtgt thinspThey are robust pollutiontolerant trees that can withstand the heavy traffic fumesgtgt thinspThey are fastgrowing with a 25ndash30 foot height allowing them to provide beauty shade and greenery