Which plants are flowering now and bringing color to neighborhood streets

Some neighborhood plants are already turning winter into a season of vivid color. San Juan trumpet, or Pyrostegia venusta, climbs over fences, pergolas and wire structures in cascades of orange flowers that resemble flames.

The native vine is known for flowering when many other plants remain dormant. Its green compound leaves carry tendrils that help it grip walls and other structures, while its flowers attract hummingbirds. It needs full sun to bloom, and pruning after flowering helps control its size and encourage new growth.

Chinese jasmine is adding fragrance to the scene. The climbing evergreen Jasminum polyanthum grows quickly and vigorously, reaching up to five meters and covering pergolas, trellises and walls with dense green growth. Its pink buds open into clusters of tubular white flowers, whose intense scent becomes especially noticeable at night.

The jasmine flowers for about 30 days. Once they fade, they can remain attached to the plant and look unattractive if they are not removed. The species also dislikes severe frost, so gardeners in colder areas are advised to place it in a sheltered spot or grow it in pots.

Looking upward, residents can also see the abundant winter flowering of Acacia dealbata, known locally as aromo. Its yellow, pompom-like flowers stand out against gray-blue, feathery foliage in some sidewalks and green spaces in Buenos Aires. The fragrant blooms attract pollinating insects and add another burst of color to the urban landscape.