With the winter tree planting season just about to begin — although some of you, depending on location of course, may already have made a start — let’s take a look at just a few of the gorgeous, flowering trees which add lively bursts of colour to home surroundings and any other ‘plantable’ space you can usurp!

The emphasis is on tree species which are simple to grow, are climatically suitable throughout the length and breadth of our huge, environmentally diverse country — bitterly cold mountain areas aside — and which, once established, are able to tolerate a ‘reasonable’ amount of neglect and even drought. There are a surprising number of small, medium and large trees to chose from and for those wishing for more than simple, floriferous beauty, some have other uses too.

Take, for example, the well known, spring flowering Kuchnar which bursts into magnificent bloom as early as February in Karachi, from mid-March in Lahore and slightly later around Rawalpindi/Islamabad and outside Peshawar. Botanically classified as Bauhinia and in English often referred to as ‘Camel Hoof tree’ due to the shape of its leaves, the distinctly orchid-like blossom of this small to medium sized tree, ranges in colour from white, through pale to deep rose pink or purple shades and as most of us are aware, this blossom, at budding stage is — especially when cooked with ‘keema’, a delicious seasonal treat.

The emphasis is on tree species which are simple to grow, are climatically suitable throughout the length and breadth of our huge, environmentally diverse country

Very fast growing — they can burst into flower within just two years of being grown from seed — Kuchnar is an indigenous species which should be more widely planted, in home gardens, parks and as a roadside tree. Quite unlike the majority of imported flowering tree species, established specimens are able to withstand drought and both the masses of flowers and then seed pods, help sustain our increasingly threatened bird species especially in urban locations, where as a direct result in the increased planting of species that are totally alien and often actively disliked, indigenous birds are finding it increasingly difficult to survive.

Tecoma stans. — Photos by the writer

Kuchnar saplings, as with all tree species, benefit greatly from being planted in specially prepared planting holes which should, as a general rule, be both wide enough and deep enough for the often fragile sapling roots to be carefully spread out inside their new abode. Each hole needs to allow for individual saplings to be planted so that the soil level around the developing tree trunk, is exactly the same as it was before the sapling was transplanted from its previous growing place. Planting saplings too deep can cause them to rot, not planting them deep enough results in them drying out or, even in the slightest breeze and despite any given support, falling over.

Bottle brush. — Photos by the writer

Planting distances between saplings also varies from species to species and ultimately depends on the anticipated size and spread of the tree once it reaches maturity: Keep in mind that the underground area taken up by tree roots can be at least three times the above ground spread of its branches and remember that all trees require adequate space to grow if they are to develop as nature desires.

Planting saplings in poor, stony soil is not, unless the species has been specifically selected to survive such adverse conditions, recommended. It is sensible practice to dig existing soil out of any proposed planting hole in whatever soil conditions, then either totally replacing or at least mixing this removed soil with good quality earth and a mixture of old, well rotted, organic manure/organic compost at a ratio of 50/50. Very carefully, transplanting the saplings into this with, instead of stamping on the new earth to firm it in and damaging the sapling roots in the process, generous amounts of water being applied at the one third, two thirds full and then at the final, leveling off stage with extra earth/manure / compost on hand to top up with as required.

Other flowering tree species to look out for now and over the next few weeks in your local nurseries include the following:

Tall: Cassia siamea which has yellow flowers on and off almost around the year. Bombax ciba or ‘Silk Cotton Tree’ has huge, waxy, scarlet flowers in spring. Erythrina indica or ‘Indian Coral Tree’ with its white or scarlet flowers during spring and Millingtonia hortensis or ‘Cork Tree’ has white, very perfumed, flowers in both spring and autumn.

Medium: Bauhinia as detailed above. Cassia fistuala or ‘Indian laburnum/Almaltas’ with its well known, yellow flowers, during spring. Callistemon, better known as ‘Bottle brush’ and Jacaranda with its mind blowing mass of sky blue flowers and which also blooms during spring.

Small: Acacia auriculiformis with yellow flowers resembling ‘Mimosa’ on and off around the year. Sebastana or ‘Scarlet cordia’ has vermillion trumpets twice a year and, finally, although it is classified as a shrub rather than a tree, Tecoma stans which blares out its bright golden trumpets for most of the year providing, that is, it is pruned back, hard, if it threatens to get out of hand.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 16th, 2014