This April, walking in the streets of Chiang Mai, you will discover the roadsides of the city awash in yellow hues. This is the Ratchaphruek flower (Cassia fistula Linn) a colourful flower which blooms during the hot season, from February to May.
The Ratchaphruek (royal tree) is also known as the Chaiyaphruek, golden shower and golden rain. The beautiful, small, yellow flowers seem to tumble from the tree and it can be seen along roadsides, in parks, gardens as well as along the city’s moat.
It is Thailand’s national flower and its yellow colour is associated with Buddhism, the country’s majority religion. Yellow is also seen as the colour of glory, harmony and unity.
