Along with being beautiful, these surreal pink flowers are perfect for Mumbai’s weather. Here’s some trivia and lore behind the pink trumpet — the city’s very own viral cherry blossom-esque bloom
Pink trumpet flower trees along the Eastern Express Highway near Vikhroli bloom with pretty pink flowers. File pic/SHADAB KHAN
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 pollution-heavy environments, unlike the cherry blossom, which thrives in temperate weather.
Visuals of these flowers have gone viral on social media. PIC/INSTAGRAM@CHALATMUSAFIR_
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 Thane’s 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 Movement-style protest. On December 1, 2025 MMRDA took to Threads to announce, “After consultations with experts and green activists, the Vikhroli-Ghatkopar stretch was realigned to save 127 pink trumpet trees,” and that 4175 new trees will be planted as compensatory green cover.
These 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, “What a pleasant sight to see while passing through by bus!” and “Mumbai has never looked more beautiful.”
‘They grow even in dark and cold months’
Bryan Jose, Vikhroli resident
Bryan Jose, 20, a resident of Vikhroli, says he has fond memories of seeing pink trumpet flowers. “Ever since the lockdown got lifted back in 2022, I started seeing these flowers bloom during the colder months,” 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, “These flowers make me feel a sense of resilience, that even in the coldest and darkest months, something bright and beautiful grows.” The proud Vikhrolikar also appreciated the special status of his neighbourhood, which is known as the home of Mumbai’s pink trumpet flowers.
‘They remind me of new beginnings’
Saanvi Bhat, Thane resident
“When I was travelling by bus in the morning, I saw them out from the window on the highway between Vikhroli and Ghatkopar,” says Saanvi Bhat, 18. “They looked so pretty and there were so many people trying to take pictures. It was all so beautiful.” 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 it’s like seeing cherry blossoms without a visa, in Mumbai.
‘It opens at dawn, falls off at dusk’
Vivek Pawar, garden supervisor and horticulturalist, The Lalit
This 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 tree,” explains Vivek Pawar, who volunteered at The National Society of The Friends of The Trees and is currently working at The Lalit, “Clusters of three large funnel-shaped flowers grow together. When flowering, the rosy-pink 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 tree.”
‘Telco had them 45 years ago’
Debi Goenka, environmentalist
Talking about his relationship with these plants, Debi Goenka says, “Around 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 that.”
Did you know?
British 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 ‘Garden City’ legacy
Here’s why it feels at home in Mumbai
>> It thrives in the warm climate — 20–38°C — typical of Mumbai
>> These trees require little water to survive, making them perfect for urban landscapes, busy roads, and medial strips
>> They are robust, pollution-tolerant trees that can withstand the heavy traffic fumes
>> They are fast-growing, with a 25–30 foot height, allowing them to provide, beauty, shade, and greenery
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