I’m pretty sure if someone flew over Harare right now, they would find it looks like a blanket of purple. Just as we recognize spring from the msasa trees in the region, summer would never be official without the jacarandas. Meet one of my favorite things about southern Africa: the jacaranda tree.
The jacaranda (jack-ah-ran-dah), initially a South American ornamental tree, has an interesting history in Harare. Planted in the early 1900s, the trees defined the city, known as the “City of Flowering Trees” until the 1960s. It was then that the city council decided too many of its once lustrous trees had been removed for the growth of four lane roads and re-declared the city “The City of Sunshine.” I find it hard to believe one tree has been removed from the looks of our neighborhood.
Blooming in October and November, this long lasting flower comes in hues ranging from bright blue to purple. The trees have such an abundance of flowers, that the fallen ones create a blanket of purple on the ground that often mirrors the purple canopy above. Without its flowers, though, the tree is easily identifiable during other times of the year, as well. Its seed pods, half the size of my hand, are flat atypical ovals with a hard stem. In layman's terms, these seed pods are known for looking like stingrays.
Pretoria, South Africa, is now known as "The Jacaranda City." The blooming of these well-known trees coincides with the University of Pretoria's year end exams. A well known legend has it that should you be hit in the head by a falling jacaranda flower, you will pass all of your tests.
Though jacarandas are known to cause a great deal of allergy problems to local residents, most people would say they are worth it- two months of living under these whimsical canopies makes Harare a magical place.
