Blooming jacaranda trees in New Farm Park, Brisbane, Australia

© Walter Bibikow/Danita Delimon

Purple haze. Bloom time for the Jacaranda

Although Australia enjoys a wide variety of plant life, the Jacaranda is without question one of the most beloved. Commonly mistaken as a local species by Australians, the Jacaranda’s roots actually lie in Brazil. In around 1818, samples of the Jacaranda mimosifolia species were collected and sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew by British collector Allan Cunningham. He was then sent on from Rio de Janeiro to New South Wales, where he would eventually serve as a colonial botanist.

Known to start flowering in early-mid October, the trees can reach a height of around 10 to 15 metres and typically produce beautiful purple flowers. The stunning Jacaranda you see in today’s image can be found in sunny Brisbane, but travel 186 miles south to the city of Grafton and you’ll be able to join an annual nine-day festival dedicated to the tree - complete with street parades, dragon boat racing and music. Grafton’s love of Jacarandas is so deep that locals even get a half-day public holiday in the middle of the festivities. We can get on board with that!