Tree of the Week: April 15th, 2025
Our fearless leader, Hank Ortiz, spent this weekend visiting the Disney Music Hall in Los Angeles and came across this gorgeous Lavender Trumpet Tree (handroanthus impetiginosus) basking in the sun in the gardens. This tree is native to North, Central and South America, from northern Mexico south to northern Argentina. It is also the national tree of Paraguay. This tree is known for its beautiful pink flowers that bloom in the summer in the southern hemisphere, and in the winter in the northern hemisphere! The common name refers to the elongated flowers that resemble a trumpet. They are a favorite of pollinators like hummingbirds. These trees are often planted as ornamental trees due to their beauty and resilience. The inner bark is used in traditional medicine. It is dried, shredded, and then boiled, making a bitter brownish-colored tea known as lapacho or taheebo, which has played an important cultural role for several South American Indigenous tribes.
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