Argentina's National Flower Day

The ceibo flower, also called seíbo or bucaré, and known in the South American region as "coral tree", was declared national flower by decree of the National Executive Power in December 1942. The choice was the result of a survey conducted by a newspaper, in which some 20,000 people participated. The magnolia had previously been selected but was discarded because it was an exotic species, not native to Argentina.

The ceibo is a tree native to the Americas: it is found in Argentina, Uruguay (where it is also the national flower), Brazil and Paraguay, always near watercourses such as the Paraná and the Río de la Plata. Belonging to the bean family, it has a low trunk and a wide crown and produces a reddish flower scientifically called Erythrina crista-galli ("red cockscomb").