Tropical trees

Giant trees tower over houses and temples – they are considered sacred. Red-flowering flamboyant trees adorn parks, streets and villages.

Flame tree – Taep – brachychiton acerifolius

One of these huge trees stands in front of the elephant cave "Goa Gajah" near Ubud and – like all these extraordinary trees – is venerated as sacred.

Banyan tree – Beringin – ficus benjamina exotica

The banyan belongs to the mulberry family and is venerated on Bali as the sacred village tree. Stories tell of villages growing up around such a tree. Near every beringin tree stands a temple or a place of offerings.

Bodhi tree – Pohon Bodi – ficus religiosa

The sacred tree of the Buddhists: sitting beneath this tree, Buddha attained enlightenment.

Strangler fig – ficus rigida

Small ficus rigida seedlings climb up a host tree; their stems then fuse and "strangle" the host, which dies from lack of light or from pressure.

Flamboyant – Pohon Desember – delonix regia

The "December tree" flowers bright red during the rainy season, adorning parks, streets and villages.

More trees

The African tulip tree (spathodea campanulata) with its orange-red flower cups and the bottlebrush (kayu putih, callistemon viminalis) with its characteristic red brush-like flowers also shape the island's scenery.