PRIDE OF INDIA TREE

It is a member of the Soapberry family and is related to Horse Chestnuts.

It has beautiful pinnate divided leaves that are coarsely toothed. They are pinkish in spring, turning lime green in the summer and then orange/yellow in autumn. It has panicles of small yellow flowers in July/August followed by distinctive seed pods. The bark on this tree is covered in colourful lichen.

Although known as the Pride of India tree, it is native to East Asia (China and Korea). In Korea it is called Mogamchoonamu.

In Chinese history it was one of five official trees which could be planted as a memorial by a tomb and is common around temples, palaces, and public gardens. In South Korea it is a protected tree for cultural reasons.

It was introduced into Europe in 1747 by Pierre d’Incarville, a Jesuit Priest and into England in the 1760’s.

There is a semi-circle of these trees in Battersea Park near the West Carriage Drive. They were planted in 1997 to commemorate 50 years since Indian Independence.