Jacaranda Trees in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

Nov 15, 2025 0

The Jacaranda mimosifolia, also known as the jacaranda, blue jacaranda, black poui, Nupur or fern tree, is a sub-tropical tree native to south-central South America that has been widely planted elsewhere because of its attractive and long-lasting violet-colored flowers. Older sources call it J. acutifolia, but modern authorities usually classify it as J. mimosifolia.

Jacaranda trees are ornamental trees that can be grown in gardens or along streets in most subtropical regions of the world. One type that is found in South African gardens is the Jacaranda mimosifolia. It is originally from Bolivia.

Each year, from late September to November, Jacaranda trees go into bloom in South Africa. These beautiful trees are especially abundant in Pretoria and Johannesburg, draping the cities in a magnificent display of colour.

A jacaranda-lined avenue in Pretoria, South Africa, during the blooming season. Source: Wikipedia

History of Jacaranda Trees in South Africa

Jacaranda trees (Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don) are native to South America and first came to Pretoria in 1888.

Jacaranda trees have been introduced to South Africa by Baron von Ludwig during the start of the botanical garden in Cape Town around 1829. In the early 1800’s a horticulturist, Carl von Ludwig, brought Jacarandas to the Cape.

In 1898 Celliers secured a concession from the government to plant trees in Groenkloof. He ordered the seeds, which included jacaranda seeds, through a Pretoria businessman, James D Clark. Clark also donated 200 jacaranda trees for the 51st anniversary of the founding of Pretoria on 16 November 1906. This was the start of the planting of jacaranda trees along the streets in Pretoria.

According to a 1945 issue of The Star newspaper, Johannesburg’s first Jacaranda tree was planted in Doornfontein. The same article claims that a William Nelson, owner of Nelsonia Nurseries, grew 30 million trees, shrubs and plants by 1896, many of which were Jacaranda trees. Nelson is also said to have planted over 100km (62 miles) of trees along the streets of the Johannesburg suburb now known as Kensington.

"Jacaranda Jim"

The first of these were along Koch Street (now Bosman Street) and in Arcadia Park. They were mostly planted by school children. The two trees on the corner of Koch and Boom Street were planted by the Mayor (JJ Kirkness) and his wife. For his contribution, Clark was nicknamed “Jacaranda Jim”.

There was however a second person with this nickname, namely Frank Walter Jameson. He is the person most famous for his contribution to the planting of jacaranda trees in Pretoria and received the nickname “Jacaranda Jim” as a result of his influence in the planting of these trees in the town. Jameson planted 40 miles of jacarandas in the city in 1911. During this time the City Council even donated two jacaranda trees to all residents who allowed them to remove large trees with roots that became a threat to the sewage system in the town.

In 1939 these trees were fenced in as a protection measure. A plaque was also placed at the site to commemorate the event. This was unveiled by the Mayor of Pretoria, Ben Swart, on 8 November 1939. This indeed indicates that jacaranda trees were seen as important to the city.

When he left Pretoria, no fewer than 6 000 jacarandas had been planted here. The policy of the City Council to plant jacarandas however remained and encouraged by Jameson, the numbers had risen to 17 000 by 1939. In 1957 this number had increased to 25 000. Jameson, who resided at Ellensgate in Arcadia, died on 16 February 1956 and was laid to rest in the Rebecca Street cemetery in Pretoria West, which hosts a large number of jacaranda trees.

As a result of Jameson’s influence, the popularity of jacarandas as a street tree took off and they now line many kilometres of streets throughout Pretoria. It is estimated that the town is host to about 37 000 of these trees along its streets.

Did you know? Pretoria's claim to fame is not even from Mzansi! The French botanist, Antoine de Jusseau, described these Brazilian trees and gave them the name ‘Jacaranda’ in 1789.

Jacaranda Trees in Johannesburg. Source: The Independent

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Pretoria: The Jacaranda City

Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is popularly known as Jacaranda City because of the large number of trees. It is estimated that Pretoria and surroundings are home to more than 65,000 of them. Pretoria became famous for the purple flowering trees and received the nickname, the “Jacaranda City”.

The jacaranda trees, far from their native South Central South America (southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and southern Bolivia), bloom every October. Jacarandas have become an important part of Pretorian culture, with even a radio station (Jacaranda FM) named after them.

Being dubbed the ‘Jacaranda city’ it is safe to say not many people are unaware of the deciduous, lavender-blue foliage of the Jacaranda tree. The trumpet-shaped flowers make their guest appearance from late September until November, as their blooms form the spectacle of the year.

Jacarandas were not only planted in the streets of Pretoria as ornamentals for aesthetics, but these urban forests also help to reduce dust pollution and provide mines with wood. The medicine man will be pleased to hear it also has various medicinal uses, the leaves can be used in baths to treat skin ailments such as acne the bark and roots can be used in treating syphilis. A watery extract from Jacaranda can be made, which has shown to have high antimicrobial properties against E. coli and Staphylococcus bacteria. Historically its bark has been used to alleviate nerve pain resulting from neuralgia.

Characteristics of the Jacaranda Tree

The tree grows to a height of up to 20 m (66 ft). Its bark is thin and gray-brown, smooth when the tree is young but eventually becoming finely scaly. The twigs are slender and slightly zigzag; they are a light reddish-brown.

The flowers are up to 5 cm (2 in) long and are grouped in 30 cm (12 in) panicles. They appear in spring and early summer and last for up to two months. They are followed by woody seed pods, about 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, which contain numerous flat, winged seeds.

The blue jacaranda is cultivated for the sake of its large compound leaves, even in areas where it rarely blooms. The leaves are up to 45 cm (18 in) long and bi-pinnately compound, with leaflets little more than 1 cm (0.4 in) long.

The wood is pale grey to whitish, straight-grained, relatively soft, and knot-free.

A jacaranda tree can grow taller than 39 feet (12 meters). Jacarandas are deciduous, meaning that they lose their leaves in the autumn. They have large, spreading crests, or tops. A jacaranda’s flowers are usually mauve, but some trees have beautiful blue flowers. Some trees also have white flowers.

The word ‘Jacaranda’ is believed to mean ‘fragrant’ in a native South American dialect, and the trees are known for their purple blossoms. Having said this, some species boast beautiful white petals, although they’re much rarer in South Africa. Find these white wonders in Herbert Baker street in Groenkloof, Pretoria.

Jacarandas in Pretoria | #Recap October

Ecological Impact and Invasive Status

Jacaranda mimosifolia is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina (Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca, and Misiones provinces), and southern Bolivia. It is found in the Dry Chaco and flooded savannas, and in the Southern Andean Yungas of the eastern Andean piedmont and inter-Andean valleys, up to 2600 meters elevation.

Eventually there were so many of these trees in South Africa that they began to take over and prevent other trees from flourishing. In 2001 the jacaranda tree was declared an invasive weed in South Africa. Jacarandas were declared a threat in 2001 In 2001, the iconic trees were declared a ‘category three invader’, as they replace and compete with indigenous species.

Water scarcity has South Africa trying to eradicate foreign species of plants and trees, including the jacaranda. However, it is actually illegal to plant more Jacarandas, as they are classified as alien plants guzzling up all the town's water and are harmful to the environment and surrounding species.

Although new trees can’t be planted, the established Jacarandas have stood their ground (quite literally) and will continue to brace the country with their colourful petals.

Phenological Shifts and Climate Change

In the 1920s, Jacarandas did not bloom in early September like they do today, they actually bloomed in mid-November. Within the past hundred years, Jacarandas have been blooming earlier and earlier in the year. This is called a phenological shift and can be due to climate change.

In September each year, South Africa’s Gauteng province turns purple. About 16% of the land in the Gauteng City Region is planted with trees, forming one of the world’s largest and most densely vegetated man-made urban forests. Johannesburg alone is recorded to have over 10 million trees. Jacarandas were introduced to Pretoria and later Johannesburg in the early 1800s, specifically as ornamentals to line the streets of the suburbs and central business districts.

Octogenarian residents who have lived in Gauteng their whole life might remember that jacarandas did not always flower in September. In the 1920s and 1930s, the trees only started to bloom in mid-November. Gradually over the decades, the date of bloom has advanced through October to the early weeks of September.

The advance in flowering took place against a backdrop of warming temperatures, ranging from 0.1-0.2°C per decade for daily maximum temperatures and a more rapid 0.2-0.4°C per decade for daily minimum temperatures.

The strongest climatic driver of the phenological advance of jacaranda blossoms in the Gauteng city region was found to be daily maximum temperatures during the month of June - falling within the dormant period of the tree. Over the period 1918-2019, June mean maximum daily temperatures have increased by 0.2°C a decade, while mean minimum daily temperatures have increased by 0.2-0.5°C a decade.

Phenological shifts represent an adaptation strategy for the plant - they cannot move on their own to a cooler climate that more closely matches what they are traditionally accustomed to, and so they alter their annually recurrent biological events. This cannot happen indefinitely, and as temperatures continue to increase, a more general risk of heat stress to the tree is heightened. This could mean that the years of purple spring seasons in Gauteng are limited.

Jacaranda in Popular Culture

South Africa’s university students believe that if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head during exam time, you’ll pass all your subjects!

Jacaranda blossoms. Source: LinkedIn

Jacaranda Trees Around the World

Jacaranda mimosifolia is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina (Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca, and Misiones provinces), and southern Bolivia.

Beyond South Africa, Jacaranda are also cultivated in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Jharkhand states in India. They are also a common sight in Israel, mainly in the towns and cities of the coastal plain.