São José dos Campos stands out for being a technology hub in the interior of São Paulo. But did you know that the city also has one of the largest trees in the state? We’re talking about the Rain Tree, also known as Chorona, which surprises with its elegance and colossal size.
The Chorona is in the Burle Marx City Park and offers shade of almost a thousand square meters. It sounds like a lie, but believe it! In 2017, the specimen was recognized by RankBrasil as the largest of the Samanea saman species in Brazil, making it an environmental heritage site and a must-see attraction in São José dos Campos.
The grandeur of the Chorona
The Chorona, or Rain Tree, got its nickname because of a curious phenomenon: at certain times of the year, small drops of water drip from its leaves and create the illusion that it is “crying”, or that it is raining even on sunny days.
What most impresses visitors – and even experts – is the colossal size of its canopy, whose diameter measures 40 meters. This is equivalent to the approximate size of two shamrock carts lined up. According to the São José dos Campos City Hall, the Chorona’s shade can reach 988.22 square meters, a feat that has earned the tree the title of the largest of its kind.
It is not possible to know the exact age of the Rain Tree, but researchers estimate that it is 90 to 100 years old. Because it is the municipality’s environmental heritage, the Chorona is protected from being cut down and will have many years to become even more impressive.
Another green giant in the state of São Paulo
As well as the largest Chorona in the country, the interior of São Paulo is also home to another giant. In the Vassununga State Park, in Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, there is a jequitibá-rosa called “Patriarca”. At 40 meters tall, its size is equivalent to a 13-storey building, and its 11-meter circumference requires seven adults to hold it.
But its most extraordinary feature is not its size. Experts estimate that the Patriarca is between 600 and 900 years old, making it one of the oldest trees in Brazil. This shows that the interior of São Paulo has an impressive collection of natural treasures, which demonstrate the diversity and richness of the state’s environmental heritage.
