SINGAPORE \u2013 A touch of autumn has arrived on Singapore\u2019s streets with Malayan Crape Myrtle trees making a bold statement with their foliage across some parts of the island.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post on Sept 29, the National Parks Board (NParks) shared several photos showcasing the prominent reddish-brown foliage on some expressways and in downtown Singapore, which resemble fall colours in cooler climes.<\/p>\n
It added that sudden weather changes, such as a heavy downpour following a dry or cool spell, frequently trigger these synchronised bursts of colourful new foliage across the tree\u2019s crown.<\/p>\n
Young, newly sprouted leaves often emerge with a vibrant coppery, pinkish or bright red colour before turning dark green as they mature.<\/p>\n
The Malayan Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia<\/i>\u00a0floribunda<\/i>) is not native to Singapore, and stands between 4m and 25m in height.<\/p>\n
Its flowers bloom a few times a year. Its petals fade from purple to pink to white, making the tree appear to produce flowers of different colours.<\/p>\n
Also blowing their trumpet, literally, are trumpet trees (Tabebuia rosea<\/i>), which are flowering across different locations in Singapore, including North Buona Vista Road, Race Course Road, the CTE and the junction of Tiong Bahru Road and Lower Delta Road.<\/p>\n
Netizen YongJen Lim shared on the NSS Public Forum Facebook page on Sept 29 that trumpet trees were flowering in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.<\/p>\n
Singaporeans shared their delight at the pink and white sakura-like flowers, with some saying that more trumpet trees should be planted across the island. \u201cIt will be amazing to look at,\u201d said a netizen.<\/p>\n Trumpet trees flowering at Bishan\u2013Ang Mo Kio Park on Sept 30.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Trumpet trees flowering at Bishan\u2013Ang Mo Kio Park on Sept 30.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Another suggested planting the trees along Orchard Road as a \u201cgreat tourist attraction\u201d.<\/p>\n According to NParks\u2019 website, flowering usually occurs between March and April and again between August and September. Trumpet trees previously bloomed<\/span><\/a> in March.<\/p>\n NParks group director for streetscape Oh Cheow Sheng had said then that the flowering is usually triggered when heavy showers occur after a hot and long dry spell.<\/p>\n A trumpet tree flowering outside Little India MRT station on Sept 29.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n According to NParks\u2019 website, trumpet tree flowering usually occurs between March and April and again between August and September.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The dry season in January was followed by bountiful rainfall in February<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Named for its trumpet-shaped flowers, this non-native species can grow to about between\u00a018m and 35m. Its flowers, which stay in bloom for several days before wilting, carpet the ground around the tree after falling off.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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