This tree is turning Delhi red. Doctor shares the fiery sight and its Madagascar link

Delhi’s streets are suddenly drenched in a dramatic shade of red, almost like nature has set the city ablaze without harm. Across parks, roads, and boulevards, towering trees are bursting into fiery bloom, pulling attention upward with every breeze. The sight has caught the eye of residents and experts alike, turning social media into a stream of vivid photographs and admiration. Among those who paused to highlight this seasonal spectacle was a Delhi-based doctor who shared its deeper story.

Dr Ambrish Mithal, a Delhi-based doctor, took to X and shared spectacular photos of Gulmohar, which is setting the city's streets and parks on fire with its vibrant red canopies. Beyond its visual drama, the gulmohar carries a layered identity shaped by geography, mythology, and everyday familiarity. Known scientifically as Delonix regia and often referred to as the royal poinciana, it traces its origins back to Madagascar before finding a second home across tropical regions.

In Delhi, its vibrant red canopy has become a seasonal marker, transforming familiar streets into something almost theatrical in appearance. The tree’s striking structure, delicate flower pattern, and distinctive seed pods add to its character, making it as fascinating in detail as it is in colour.




As per the doctor, across India, its meanings shift with region and tradition. In parts of South India, it holds a sacred association, while in Kerala, it is sometimes called kaalvarippoo, tied to a religious legend linked to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In eastern states like Bengal and Assam, it is often referred to as Krishna chura, though that name is sometimes shared with a related species known as the peacock flower, he claims. These overlapping identities only deepen the tree’s cultural presence, turning it into more than just a seasonal bloom but a living thread between landscapes, stories, and memory.

About the Gulmohar tree

Delonix regia is a flowering plant that belongs to the bean family Fabaceae, in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is native to Madagascar and is best known for its striking appearance, especially its fern-like leaves and bright orange-red flowers that bloom during summer. Because of its vibrant look, it is widely planted as an ornamental tree in tropical and warm regions around the world.

The tree is also known by several common names, such as flame tree, peacock flower, royal poinciana, flamboyant, phoenix flower, and flame of the forest.