Pretoria is Turning Purple Again! The Story Behind Jacarandas

Photo Credit: Friends of Tshwane Heritage Research Centre

Pretoria and Jacarandas go hand-in-hand! And, as the city turns purple once more, we’re sharing the history of the iconic trees that (spoiler alert) begins in Brazil!

Pretoria, South Africa (03 October 2024) — For as long as most South Africans can remember, spring tends to officially be in session when the Jacarandas in Pretoria start to bloom, turning the city purple due to the number of these trees.

It’s a breathtaking sight that brings with it a sense of soft hope for better times, especially after the gruelling winters Pretoria often faces. For some, like students at the University of Pretoria, Jacarandas signal good luck (if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head, you’re more likely to pass your test as the myth goes). For others, it’s a signal that it’s time to whip out the shorts and slops again. But for most, it’s simply a picturesque experience that makes you feel as if you’re strolling through a fever dream.

But what’s the actual story behind these pretty trees?

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Jacarandas are indigenous to South Africa, but you’d also be wrong. Yes, there are a ton of cultural ties we have to the trees and the city that’s known for turning purple. Heck, we even have a local radio station named after the purple blooms! But the beginning of this story is actually rooted in Brazil.

As Brazilian trees named by a French botanist (Antoine de Jussea), Jacarandas were always destined to explore the world. It was in the 1800s that they’d adventure to South Africa ,with the first planting of the purple beauty taking place not in Pretoria as most of us would assume, but in Joburg’s Dorrnfontein.

Some also set their roots down in KwaZulu-Natal before reaching Pretoli!

However, it wasn’t long until a travelling nurseryman known as Templeton saw the opportunity to sell some Jacaranda seeds to Gauteng’s other rapidly growing city. Templeton had two seedlings and wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer. But, it seemingly didn’t take a lot of negotiating to get JD Cilliers on board. Soon, two trees were planted in Sunnyside—marking the beginning of an era.

But, it was actually thanks to a man named Frank Jameson (known as Jacaranda Jim) that Pretoria boasts so many of these trees. Jacaranda Jim was well known for planting a lot of Jacarandas in the early 20th century—many of which we still see today (jacarandas can live until the age of 200!).

While the trees are alien and planting more of them won’t make you a friend of the law, they’re certainly appreciated as honourary South Africans!