Hong Kong’s ‘hero trees’ lose their glory as climate warms

Hong Kong's beloved kapok trees are not blooming the way they used to, drawing concern from conservationists who see it as a sign that nature is falling out of sync as the climate warms.



Locally known as "hero trees" for their majestic appearance, kapoks attract large numbers of photographers every spring when their bright red flowers bloom on otherwise bare branches.



But that contrast has been fading in recent years, as leaves that should have been shed during winter stay put as the seasons change, worrying researchers.



"The kapok trees we see now very often have both flowers and leaves at the same time," said Hong Kong Observatory's former director Lam Chiu-ying.



"In some places, half the tree is covered in green leaves and the other half in red flowers."



The kapok, also known as the red silk-cotton tree, is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, including southern China.