Jacaranda Mexican Flowers: A Symbol of Spring

The jacaranda Mexican Flower tinges the city with its color, but also with its magic, nobility, mystery, and beauty. Although the tree is not native to Mexico, it is the country’s most representative tree because it has remained there for many decades.

The jacaranda Mexican Flower and its characteristics

Jacaranda trees are beautiful trees that can grow up to 20 meters tall, and their flowers turn purple during spring and fall. In fact, this is one of the most beautiful and special moments of these seasons, as the streets are painted the same color, making it a total visual spectacle. They are similar to cherry trees , but not identical.

Its name in Portuguese is yacaranda , which means fragrant, and there are different varieties, approximately 120 species, although only 50 have been accepted into the canon. However, the tree that fills the streets of Mexico with color is the jacaranda mimosifolia, jacarandá preto in Portuguese .

The jacaranda’s leaves are very small, measuring approximately half a millimeter, and its purple flowers bloom during the spring, reaching 4 to 5 centimeters in size. Its fruits are woody and stingray-shaped.

This tree has a very peculiar adaptation to urban environments since it is a subtropical species, which is why it has become a very special symbol of Mexico City every spring.

The history of the jacaranda Mexican Flower

The jacaranda Mexican Flower is native to Brazil, although it later arrived in Mexico at the end of the 19th century and, although there are no precise records of its introduction to the country, there are several versions that tell us the story of how the lilac tree became the favorite of the Mexican territory .A reunion and the jacaranda

Sanshiro Matsumoto, a young man originally from Japan, left his country in 1910 in search of his father, who had abandoned him and his mother thirteen years earlier. Upon arriving in Mexico, it was not difficult for him to achieve his goal, since Tatsugoro Matsumoto , the man who had given him life, was the creator of a majestic garden with an artificial lake in the Crystal Palace to celebrate the centennial of Mexico’s Independence, for which he became the favorite gardener of the Porfiriato.

Absolutely nothing is known about what happened during their reunion; however, it is recorded that Sanshiro helped his father organize the administrative foundations of a gardening business he had in mind in Mexico City. Over time, the venture gradually prospered, even though it was going through the Mexican Revolution .

Between 1920 and 1924, both Japanese gardeners proposed to President Álvaro Obregón that they plant jacaranda trees on the city’s main streets. This idea appealed to the politician enough to allow it.

Tatsugoro and Sanshiro implemented a jacaranda breeding plan in their nurseries after the tree had already been imported from Brazil. Father and son thought it would be a great idea since the city’s climatic conditions were perfect for the species.

Some reports claim that, during the time when the Japanese were persecuted by the American government in retaliation for their intervention in the world conflict, Sanshiro purchased the former Hacienda of Temixco in the state of Morelos, with the goal of building a shelter for his fellow countrymen to take refuge and live off the crops.

Since then, the jacaranda Mexican Flower has become a great symbol of Mexico City and continues to shine year after year during the spring, making it very clear that the work of the Matsumoto men left important results throughout Mexico.

The jacaranda Mexican Flower and its medicinal benefits

Using a decoction of jacaranda Mexican Flower root serves as a sudorific, helping to expel toxins and stimulate the immune system through perspiration. It even has a very similar effect to ginger against colds.

This syrup has also been used as an antidote to treat venereal and gastric diseases, as well as furonculosis or anthrax, liver disease, skin inflammation, hemorrhoids, and blood detoxification due to its diuretic and diaphoretic properties.

Jacaranda Mexican Flower has antiseptic properties , and the decoction liquid can treat acne, syphilis, superficial wounds, chickenpox, sores, and bone pain. It’s important to remember that the medicinal use of jacaranda should be administered by a specialist, as incorrect dosage or misuse can have serious consequences.

Spring is considered one of the favorite seasons of the year, and the jacaranda Mexican Flower makes it even more special.

Who brought the jacarandas to Mexico?

You’ve probably heard that this flower is not native to Mexico , but that someone had the brilliant idea of ​​bringing it to our country and that’s why we can see it every spring.

That’s right, according to records, a Japanese gardener named Tatsugoro Matsumoto traveled to America in 1892. His final destination was Peru, but he made a stopover in Mexico. It is said that the man was astonished by the kindness Mexicans showed toward their plants and flowers.

After his trip to South America, Matsumoto received an invitation from Mexican miner José Landero y Coss, asking the Japanese gardener to work on his ranch in the state of Hidalgo.

In this way, Tatsugoro Matsumoto traveled to our country and began working on the design of different gardens for Mexicans living in certain areas of Mexico City.

His exquisite work caught the attention of important figures, including General Porfirio Díaz , so the Japanese artist was hired to take charge of the floral arrangements for Chapultepec Castle and its surrounding forest .

In fact, the president commissioned Matsumoto to create a garden specifically designed for an exhibition of Japanese products at the Crystal Palace, which is now the Chopo Museum in Santa María la Ribera.

What Are Jacaranda Trees?

Its flowers fill the ground along a beautiful purple path. We’re referring to the jacaranda. This tree is especially prized in Mexico for its visual beauty. Furthermore, several streets in Mexico City have become home to this species, thus fostering a special affection among its citizens.

Its massive arrival in Mexico is attributed to the Japanese gardener Tatsugoro Matsumoto, who, with the authorization of Mexican presidents, began planting this tree to decorate the main avenues of the nation’s capital more than a century ago. This was in the 1920s.

It is said that jacaranda trees arrived as an alternative to the cherry blossom trees that bloom in Japan, which could not be planted in our territory due to weather conditions.

The jacaranda, scientifically known as Jacaranda mimosifolia, belongs to the Bignoniaceae family; a species of flowering plants characterized by their bell-shaped form. It grows primarily in South America, in subtropical countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.

Where Can You Find Jacaranda Trees?

‘Something Is Not Right Here’: Mexico City’s Famed Jacaranda Trees Bloom Early

Every year, when the jacaranda trees bloom in Mexico City, social media is flooded with photos and videos. Everyone loves them. We love them. Their elongated bell-shaped flowers, in a lilac hue, both electric and serene, capture our attention.

So, when in January 2024 it was reported that they had bloomed before their usual time—spring, coinciding with the March 8th march—questions arose: Is it real? Is that normal? While the city speculated , a group of researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change (ICAyCC) and the Institute of Biology, both at UNAM, are looking for answers. If something is changing, they want to prove it with science.

Jacaranda trees are an icon of the city, but that was n’t always the case. This species, native to South America, arrived in Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century at the request of Tatsugoro Matsumoto , a Japanese specialist in imperial gardens.

Matsumoto emigrated to Mexico in 1896, hired by a landowner to design his residential garden. Later, he was in charge of the gardens of Chapultepec Castle. In 1910, he introduced jacaranda seeds from Peru and cultivated them in one of his nurseries. Fourteen years later, he began planting them in various neighborhoods.

Today, they’re everywhere. In January 2024, journalists sought out Constantino González, a researcher at ICAyCC, to get his opinion on possible changes to the species. He didn’t know if the reported blooms were real. To verify, he visited the sites where flowers were said to be present: downtown and the Alameda Central.

He found no evidence. So he looked to the past and searched for documents. Nothing. Since the tree’s arrival in Mexico, there are no records of its phenology, that is, the cyclical changes in its development, such as flowering or leaf fall.

Ecosystem and the Jacaranda Mexican Flower

Despite the jacaranda’s many contributions to the environment, this tree is considered an invasive species, as it disrupts the network of interconnections with other microorganisms in the area.
Most often, they cause damage to the ecosystem because they reproduce and spread uncontrollably, disrupting the health and economy of the region, as well as the natural organisms in the area. 

Olalde Omaña emphasizes that jacarandas not only disrupt the dynamics of animals, insects, bacteria, fungi, and other beings that permanently reside in Mexico, but also that by being planted here, they take away physical space from a tree native to the country.

For example, their roots, being too robust, often break sidewalks; and their great height often causes their branches to become entangled in power lines.

On the other hand, the lack of information about native species in Mexico has led to the popularity of exotic species. Therefore, when we go to a commercial nursery to buy a plant or tree, it is unlikely to find native vegetation. This represents not only a loss of our biodiversity but also a loss of part of our culture.

“It’s not that this tree is bad, but rather that when we plant it we lose our vegetation.”

“What you see planted on city streets or in homes is what you’d find in commercial nurseries, that is, exotic species, which aren’t harmful, but they hinder the reproduction of native trees like the strawberry tree, the Mexican bay tree, or the oak.”

Along these same lines, the biologist states that there may be invasive native species, which can also pose a risk to the environment, as they compete for food, resting areas, and germination sites; for example, in the center of the country, the ash, eucalyptus, and casuarina (which are exotic) are found.

How the Jacaranda and Blue Hanami Came to Mexico—and the Japanese Paisajista Who Made It Happen

The most astonishing jacaranda Mexican flowers, which surround the whole of Mexico in a purplish lavender look, are not native to Mexico. Japanese landscape artists introduced them. In 1800, Matsumoto was invited to Mexico. After impressing wealthy patrons in Peru, he permanently settled in Mexico and opened his nursery.

He further declined to cultivate cherry trees under President Pascual Ortiz Rubio’s command, who thought cultivating them would be a symbol of friendship between Japan and Mexico. He recommended cultivating jacaranda because of its climate adaptability.

Jacaranda trees and flowers all over Mexico bring the impact of happiness in the spring season and have deep cultural and historical bonds. Matsuomo and his son cultivated a wide range of different types of Bougainvillea, poinsettias, and jacarandas.

They indirectly introduced Japanese-inspired hanami with an American twist. Blue jacaranda instead of cherry red blossoms. Their contributions extend beyond gardening in World War 2. They warmly welcomed and refugeed Japanese immigrants and maintained strong ties with Mexico.

Fun Facts About Jacaranda Mexican Flower

• Jacaranda are not native to the Mexico but are widely availabale
• Its also named as a blueberry plant
• They reaches up to height of 20-30 cm. And people confude its flowers with passion flower.
• They produce fruits in castanet shape.
•  It flowers before spring in some years, something that has been attributed to climatic variations and reduced humidity.
• – It is a hardy tree and adapts easily to different soil types and climatic conditions.
• – Its flowers have been used for medicinal purposes in some cultures, mainly in infusions to relieve respiratory ailments.
• Jacarandas do not smell despite their flowers
• They bloom a couple of times a year
  

Early Blooming of Jacaranda tree flowers

The warm winter currently experienced in Mexico City has caused 
the first flowers of the jacaranda trees to begin to bloom, and although the first lilac blossoms are beginning to appear on the streets, avenues, and parks, it has made the capital’s residents question their early appearance.

Jacaranda trees are native to South America and typically bloom days before the spring equinox in March. According to Leonardo Alejandro Beltrán, an expert at the Botanical Garden of the UNAM Institute of Biology , the hours of daylight that characterize spring trigger various stages in the development of these plants, starting with the beginning of their flowering process, an important aspect of their life cycle. 

The researcher indicated that climate change has caused jacaranda trees to bloom in winter in Mexico City, when they normally bloom with the beginning of spring, as the plants respond to prevailing temperatures. In this context, INIFAP will begin an assessment of this situation, which will be added to another environmental factor affecting urban trees, such as the current drought.

He emphasized that, “in the particular case of jacarandas, these are species that flower first and then form leaves, which remain for longer, a situation that makes them more susceptible to drought due to water loss, and, if it is prolonged, to pests and diseases.” He points out that the early flowering of jacarandas could be a response to their adaptation to climate change, which, it should be noted, has been very drastic in recent decades.

Within this framework, Dr. Benavides highlighted the research that INIFAP has conducted on the management and quantification of the environmental services of urban forests for more than 40 years. He described it as a pioneering institution in this field, of great importance since the development of urban forests takes place amidst extremely difficult and adverse conditions.

Therefore, we must conserve and protect urban forests, as they represent a very valuable resource for improving the quality of life of residents of large cities, such as Mexico City, and of the country as a whole. According to recent data from INEGI, more than 60 percent of the population lives in Mexico’s cities.

Early flowering of jacaranda Mexican Flower is a clear indicator of global warming and climate change, which is intensified in cities by the increased impact of heat, creating what are known as urban heat islands, as cities are hotter.

“The jacaranda trees are warning us of climate change and lower environmental humidity, a situation that is worsened by the drought we are experiencing.” Faced with this difficult situation, the researcher calls on the population to reduce pollutant emissions by reducing car use, conserving water, and not using disposable items. They should make more responsible use of natural resources and not waste food.

EveryThing About Jacaranda Trees

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