While the big white sails and ol’ Mr Coathanger are splendid sights to behold without floral adornments, the subtle embellishments of lilac flowers are a fresh spring framing for these iconic structures. Jacarandas bloom along the foreshore, the cobblestoned streets of the Rocks and in a big bright forest between the ferry wharf and the MCA.
It’s here. It’s time. It’s purple. When spring rolls around, the jacaranda trees in Sydney come into their fabulous mauve bloom.
Sydneysiders have fallen so deeply in love with these lilac goddesses that the jacaranda tree is often mistaken as an Australian native when she’s actually a Brazilian babe.
To account for the purple floral takeover of Sydney, locals have come up with a few interesting explanations for the tree’s prevalence. One tale that is probably an urban myth is the story of a hospital matron who sent newborns home with jacaranda seedlings to spread the lavender haze around the city, others credit civic workers who supposedly planted the trees as part of a city beautification program in the early 20th century up until the 1960s.
But whether they came by way of a stylish Brazilian botanist or were flown in via newborn-bearing storks, jacarandas stretch their dreamy purple limbs out across Sydney every year from now until the end of November, bringing floral joy and feeding the Instagramming masses.
Now we’re in the thick of jacaranda season, here are eight of the top spots to go tree hunting around Sydney and NSW.
