In March, as late spring draws to a close and gives way to the first heat of early summer, the parasol trees in the Imperial Palace burst into bloom. Their canopies of soft pink-purple flowers, scattered across an ancient expanse of deep green, create a poetic and dreamlike landscape that captivates all who visit.

Firmiana simplex (also known as Chinese parasol) - the “royal flower” - is now in full bloom in the Imperial land of Hue.