Amidst the bloom of spring, the striking purple flowers of the Jacaranda, also known as Hawaiian Mimosa, transform the urban landscape of Kathmandu into a stunning canvas of beauty. This lovely addition to the city, which belongs to the Bignoniaceae family, is originally from South America.
Although not native to Nepal, Jacaranda trees have lined the streets of Kathmandu for over 150 years. There’s a rich history woven behind the arrival of the Jacaranda in Nepal. It is believed that the Rana rulers, who governed the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 A.D. to 1951 A.D., introduced the tree to Nepal for the first time.
Jacaranda’s bloom coincides with the Nepali New Year. And people believe if a Jacaranda flower falls on one’s head, it brings good fortune and blessings.
Introduced to Nepal by the Rana regime, the Jacaranda has been part of Kathmandu’s streets for over 150 years. The eye-catching bluish-purple colour of the flower represents spirituality, wisdom, and mystery. The tree can grow to a height of 15 by 25 metres and spread out. The open canopy adds to its aesthetic appeal, allowing dappled light to filter through while still providing ample shade. The flower blooms from April to August, with the peak blooming season occurring in May.
Along with its lovely appearance, the Jacaranda tree is equally beneficial to the environment, serving as a carbon sink, absorbing CO₂ emissions. It also provides shade for animals, pedestrians, and bystanders. The delicate petals of the flower serve as food to sunbirds and insects like honeybees.
Moreover, its allure has transcended geographical boundaries, captivating global attention and inspiring references in pop culture.
This tree evokes the belief that beauty can bloom even amidst chaos. The Australian Christmas song “Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow” refers to jacaranda trees – the song goes, “When the bloom of the jacaranda tree is here, Christmas time is near…” (Christmas coincides with the summer season in the southern hemisphere!).
The movie musical Encanto, set in Colombia, references the plant in the song “What Else Can I Do”. Isabela Madrigal showcases her plant-summoning powers, conjuring up a hurricane of Jacaranda flowers in a display of her magical abilities; as the line goes, “If I just knew it didn’t need to be perfect, it just needed to be, and they let me be … a hurricane of Jacarandas.”
Jacaranda gives millions of pedestrians in the congested valley a beautiful path as its petals fall to the ground, inspiring the idea that beauty can still exist amid chaos. It has been a part of the valley’s landscape for more than a century and a half and will remain so.
Pratikshya Bhatta is a junior editor with Nepal Connect.
