The Cassia Fistula flower, which grows abundantly in many Southeast Asian countries, has long been chosen as the national flower of Thailand. In Thailand, it’s known as “Khuen,” with its elegant yellow color symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and the Thai royal family. This flower is not only beautiful but also holds powerful vitality and carries special meaning for the Thai people.
What is the Cassia Fistula flower?
The Cassia Fistula flower is from a tree of the same name. When fully grown, this tree can reach heights of 10 to 20 meters and has a trunk diameter of around 40 centimeters. A distinctive feature of the Cassia Fistula tree is its bark thickness, measuring between 6 to 8 millimeters, often with a whitish layer on the trunk.
As for the characteristics of the Cassia Fistula flower, its most striking feature is its unmistakable vibrant yellow color, unlike any other flower. The flowers typically bloom in large clusters, cascading downwards. The individual petals of the Golden Shower tree flower are oval-shaped, and adorned with delicate, silky-smooth hair-like structures. With these features, when Cassia Fistula flowers blossom, they create a radiant yellow space in the sky. When planted abundantly, it becomes an impressive sight that’s hard to forget for anyone who has ever seen it.
The Significance of Thailand’s National Flower
Why has the Cassia Fistula flower been chosen as the national flower of Thailand? This is a question that many of you may have wondered about.
Representative of Buddhism and Royalty
As mentioned earlier, the Cassia Fistula flower boasts a vivid yellow color closely associated with the hues of Buddhism. Hence, this flower not only represents the Buddhist faith but also stands as a symbol of the Thai monarchy, signifying the luxurious and distinguished style of the royal family.
For this reason, in significant ceremonies in Thailand, the presence of the national flower, Cassia Fistula, is integral, often seen in the form of garlands made from these flowers, and presented as gifts to international friends.
Furthermore, the Cassia Fistula flower represents peace and a robust connection between Thailand and other countries worldwide. This is evident as small individual Cassia Fistula flowers link together, forming large clusters that adorn the main roads throughout Thailand.
Representative of the Spirit of the Thai People
The Cassia Fistula tree embodies strong, enduring vitality, symbolizing the Thai people’s forward-looking mindset. They are resilient, facing challenges head-on, and persistently striving to overcome obstacles and achieve their life goals.
Symbol of Prosperity
The Cassia Fistula flower, commonly found in Thai temples, enhances their beauty and spiritual atmosphere when in bloom. This connection strengthens the belief among Thai people in the flower’s positive significance according to Buddhist beliefs.
With its symbolic representation of material prosperity, the Cassia Fistula signifies increased wealth and a promising future.
Given its aesthetic significance and cultural importance, the Cassia Fistula flower stands as a strong contender for Thailand’s national flower. It embodies ties with Buddhism, the monarchy, and reflects the spirit of the nation. Hence, finding a replacement for the Cassia Fistula as the national flower of Thailand, known as the Land of the Golden Temples, proves to be a challenging task.
The Uses of Cassia Fistula
Cassia Fistula is one of the beautiful flowers, characterized by its vibrant yellow color, often grown in office courtyards and urban areas to provide shade and embellish streets. When visiting Thailand, you’ll easily spot this flower.
Cassia Fistula is not just for looks; it has various practical uses. Its strong wood is prized for construction and landscaping. Additionally, the tree’s tannin has medicinal properties, aiding in treating conditions like heart disease, cancer prevention, fighting free radicals, and working as an antioxidant.
When does the Cassia Fistula flower bloom?
If you’re curious about the national flower of Thailand, you can visit Thailand when these flowers are in bloom to experience and witness them firsthand.
From April to November, the Cassia Fistula flowers start blooming on the streets and in residential gardens across Thailand. The peak blooming period is from May to August when these flowers blossom profusely all over the country. Therefore, visiting Thailand from around May to August will make it easy for you to spot and experience Thailand’s national flower at its most vibrant display.
Conclusion
Here are the basic details about the national flower of Thailand that Xu Farm wants to share with you. Hopefully, this article has provided useful insights to help you identify what Thailand’s national flower is and has given you a better understanding of this flower.
Leave a Reply