With the arrival of spring, Islamabad bursts into color as Kachnar trees bloom across the city, turning streets and parks into a scenic landscape.

But beyond their aesthetic charm, these seasonal blossoms offer economic opportunities and a treasured culinary delight for many residents.

Locally known as Kachnar, the tree belongs to the Bauhinia genus and flourishes in various parts of the capital. Islamabad is home to four varieties of the tree, the most prominent being those with soft violet and pure white orchid-like flowers.

These begin to blossom between February and April, signaling the start of a short but profitable season for harvesting the tree’s edible buds.

The young Kachnar buds are widely used in local cuisine, often prepared with potatoes or minced meat, and are a sought-after delicacy in many households during the spring months.

However, the process of collecting these buds is labor-intensive. Many low-income residents, children, and villagers from surrounding areas can be seen climbing trees and scouring parks to gather the blooms.

The seasonal activity provides temporary employment to daily wage laborers. In areas such as Sector F-6 near Super Market and Sector F-7, collectors typically earn between Rs50 to Rs70 per kilogram.

Retailers then sell the buds at higher prices-ranging from Rs100 to Rs150 per kilogram-depending on the locality and demand.

A notable price variation exists between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. In Rawalpindi, the average price stands at Rs50 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, in the upper-middle-class sectors of Islamabad and Rawalpindi-such as G-10 Markaz, G-11, Aabpara, and Commercial Market-the buds fetch higher prices due to stronger demand and a preference for perceived quality.

‘This is very costly at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market due to high demand,’ said a vendor in G-11. He added that most of the premium-quality buds are sourced from rural areas outside Islamabad, as urban pollution tends to affect the quality of locally harvested produce.

Interestingly, in areas like Super Market, prices are relatively lower-often below Rs60 per kilogram-owing to modest consumer demand. Beyond its culinary and economic value, experts are calling for increased plantation of Kachnar trees across the city.

The trees not only contribute to the city’s natural beauty but also help alleviate seasonal allergies and serve as useful fodder for livestock.

Promoting Kachnar cultivation, they argue, could offer both environmental benefits and modest economic support for local communities-making the tree a true symbol of springtime prosperity in the federal capital.