Coming to Son Tra Peninsula of the coastal city Da Nang by the end of March, tourists are likely to be mesmerized by the shade of stunning yellow from the flowers of yellow flametrees.
Vietnamese names: Lim xẹt, phượng vàng, điệp, muồng kim phượng, lim sét, trắc vàng.
Other names: Copperpod, yellow-flamboyant, yellow flametree, yellow poinciana, yellow-flame.
Yellow flametrees (Peltophorum pterocarpum) is a deciduous tree species that are utilized to serve the purpose of ornament. The trees can reach a height of up to 35 meters tall with broad umbrella-shaped crowns. This perennial tree species prefers coastal forests, mangrove forests, and sandy beaches as its habitat and is native to South East Asia and northern Australasia including Australia, Papa New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam [1].
In Son Tra, yellow flametree commences to bloom in the late March and lasts until mid-to-late April every year, making Son Tra dotted with vibrantly yellow flowers in full bloom and standing out from the lush greenery of the beloved Peninsula. Such a blooming season, without doubts, offers an irresistible invitation to every visitor, notably wildlife photographers and globetrotters, to come, savour the moment, and indeed take precious pictures [2].
The beauty of this natural sighting is even better with the presence of red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus). The yellow-flame trees offer them shelters while the flowers are one of their all-time favorite snacks. Thus, this wholeheartedly makes the setting more lively than ever. It comes as no surprise to learn that every photographer is willing to stay for hours only to take snapshots of “The Queens” searching for food beneath dazzling golden blooms [2,3].
If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, then encountering red-shanked doucs during the yellow-flame blooming season is an unforgettable must! Join us and make your own magical memories with our primate tour “THE QUEST FOR THE QUEENS WITH EXPERTS IN SON TRA PENINSULA”!
REFERENCES
- National Parks Board. (n.d.). Peltophorum pterocarpum. National Parks Board. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/0/3056
- Phạm Tuấn. (2025, April 20). Mê mẩn mùa hoa vàng lim xét ở bán đảo Sơn Trà. Báo Văn Hóa. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://baovanhoa.vn/multimedia/me-man-mua-hoa-vang-lim-xet-o-ban-dao-son-tra-128380.html
- Da Nang Today. (2021, April 12). Peltophorum pterocarpum blossoms brightening Son Tra Peninsula. Báo Đà Nẵng. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://baodanang.vn/english/photo-news/202104/peltophorum-pterocarpum-blossoms-brightening-son-tra-peninsula-3879358/
LE QUANG