JAC's Top 5: Fun facts about jacaranda trees
Pretoria's famous jacaranda trees are in full bloom once again. Here are a few interesting facts about the beautiful flowers.
Springtime is jacaranda time for Pretoria and a few parts of Johannesburg. The purple flowers are in full bloom and just one look at the majestic trees is sure to lift your mood.
But did you know that there is a lot more to these trees than just their pretty petals? Read on for five interesting facts about the famous jacaranda tree.
Jacarandas are not indigenous to our country. Despite the trees being intrinsically linked to the identity of Pretoria-based South Africans, jacaranda trees are actually from South America. It is William Nelson, a nursery owner living in the country in the 19th century, who is responsible for lining our streets with the imported plants.
Jacarandas are not always purple. While the tree-lined streets of Pretoria, the "Jacaranda City", would have you thinking otherwise, jacarandas do come in other colours besides purple. If you look closely around the Groenkloof area, you might spot a rare white jacaranda tree.
Taking pictures with a jacaranda tree has landed people in hot water before. In Australia in 2017, residents became so fed up with people crowding around trees and causing traffic while trying to take photos that they requested the closure of certain streets. Be careful how you set up your photo: don't do anything that could cause harm to yourself, or to your neighbours' property!
Any dreams of having your own purple tree in your yard will, unfortunately, never come true because it is illegal to plant new jacaranda trees. Even if you were to secure the necessary seeds, you wouldn't be able to plant your tree because the jacaranda plant is an alien plant that is harmful to the South African environment. So beautiful, yet so contentious: that's the jacaranda for you.
South Africans will fight anyone who suggests that jacaranda trees should be removed. In 2001, Ruda Landman presented a full segment on Carte Blanche on the planned "eradication" of all jacaranda trees because of their alien status. South Africans were outraged, only to find out that it was all a very elaborate April Fool's Day joke.
What interesting things do you know about jacaranda trees? Share them with Alex Jay in the comments below or on Twitter, @jacarandafm.
If you have any pictures of yourself appreciating jacaranda trees (in a safe and responsible way), please do send them through to us - we'd love to see them!
Image: Patty Jansen