A rare blue-violet flower resembling the Neelakurinji has bloomed along trekking trails in the Kudremukh region of Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka. The bloom has drawn visitors to the Western Ghats, where the species grows in high-altitude habitats and fragile shola-grassland ecosystems.
Neelakurinji and Related Species
Neelakurinji is the common name for Strobilanthes kunthiana, a flowering shrub native to the Western Ghats. The plant is known for its mass flowering cycle, which occurs once in 12 years in many populations.
Blue-violet blooms seen in Kudremukh are similar in appearance to Neelakurinji, but local observations have described the current flowering as scattered and limited compared with larger mass blooms recorded in 2022 and 2023.
Western Ghats Habitat
The Western Ghats is a mountain chain along the western edge of India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region contains shola forests, montane grasslands, and several endemic plant species that occur only in this ecological zone.
These wildflower shrubs generally grow at altitudes between 1,300 metres and 2,400 metres. Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka is one of the protected areas where such vegetation occurs.
Bloom Cycle and Conservation Status
The true Neelakurinji has a synchronised flowering cycle that is linked to long vegetative growth periods. In Kerala, the 12-year bloom has been recorded on the slopes of Chokramudi in Bison Valley, with peak flowering expected in September and October 2026.
The species was assessed for the first time for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2026 and was classified as threatened. Habitat loss and tourism pressure are among the recorded threats to the plant.
Important Facts for Exams
- Strobilanthes kunthiana is the scientific name of Neelakurinji.
- Neelakurinji is associated with a 12-year flowering cycle in the Western Ghats.
- The Western Ghats is a biodiversity hotspot with shola forests and grasslands.
- Kudremukh National Park lies in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district.
Tourism and Forest Protection
The Karnataka Tourism Department and local forest administrations have issued safety advisories for visitors in Kudremukh National Park. The advisories call for eco-friendly travel and compliance with environmental rules in protected forest areas.
The Muthuvan tribal community in Kerala uses the term “kallappoov” for scattered false blooms that can appear before the main flowering cycle. Such local ecological terms are part of the traditional knowledge associated with Neelakurinji flowering in the Western Ghats.
