Skip to content
5 Nov 2018

Sydney's sea of lavender

Jacarandas (Jacaranda mimosifolia) are synonymous with Sydney and historically have been planted as an ornamental tree around the harbour from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to Vaucluse House and in various backyards and estates.

The Garden was one of the first and only spots people could see the showy blooms over a century ago, however since then they can be seen scattered along the foreshore and beyond.
 
The species is native to Agentina and Bolivia but can survive and perform well in most temperate parts of Australia. Jacarandas are readily grown from freshly fallen seed and can be considered weedy in some areas.

jacaranda, sydney, royal botanic garden
Jacaranda near Sydney Harbour in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Image credit Ben Adams
This most beautiful flowering tree is a native of Brazil, and no garden of any pretensions can be said to be complete without a plant of it. The specimen in the Botanic garden is well worth a journey of 50 miles to see. Its beautiful rich lavender blossoms, and its light feathery foliage, render it the gem of the season.
 
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 December 1868

City

Start at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney – you can easily locate the blooming beauties by using Garden Explorer, a database of all 30,000 plants in the Garden. The most iconic tree is located near Farm Cove which has the backdrop of the harbour and Sydney Opera House – view the map here.

There are also a few other unique species like the white flowering Jacaranda also near the foreshore. Although younger, it's quite a prominent display. From there meander through to Circular Quay and The Rocks where you will see many trees in full bloom.

Eastern suburbs

Seven young Jacarandas were planted in Frog Hollow at Centennial Parklands but it might take a few more years for notable displays. However, a trip down Oxford Street, the backroads of Paddington near Fiveways, Woollahra and Double Bay all have Jacaranda lined streets. Vaucluse House is also a popular spot and safe spot to view the trees as you don’t need to worry about traffic.

Inner city

Camperdown, Glebe, Erskineville and the University of Sydney campus along Physics Road are all great places to see Jacarandas.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#usyd #37degrees

A post shared by BEHNAM (@behnnaamm) on

Western Sydney

Argyle Street in Camden has 47 beautiful Jacarandas and for the first time this year the community will come to celebrate these significant trees at the Camden Jacaranda Festival from 23 to 25 November 2018.

jacaranda, argyle street, camden
Argyle Street has a canopy of 47 Jacaranda trees

North shore

Suburbs such as Lavender Bay, Mosman and Cremorne also offer a reliable display of Jacarandas throughout the warmer months. The Wendy Whitely Gardens offer views of the trees dotting Sydney Harbour and Kirribilli’s McDougall Street is a popular purple-coloured street in summer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sydney’s Best Jacaranda Walk #McDougallStreet

A post shared by Peera Maytha | Sydney (@peeramaytha) on

The Jacaranda Queen

If you think you are crazy for Jacarandas - check out the Grafton Jacaranda Festival video from last year.

Did you know?

One story credits Sydney’s Jacaranda canopies to the efforts of a hospital matron who sent each newborn home with a jacaranda seedling.

Category: Arboriculture
If you are a journalist and have a media enquiry about this story, please click here for contact details and more information.