The Bloomin' Trees of South Africa

I came home to find that spring had already begun to sprung while I was in Kariega! Jasmine and camellia, lilies and clivias, azaleas and poppies were all blooming in my garden and it won't be long until the Blue Jacaranda is blooming too.

My two favorite blooming trees in South Africa have got to be the Coral Tree (Erythrina) and the Blue Jacaranda.

There are six species of Erythrina indigenous to South Africa, three of which flower from the late winter into spring. They were all over Kariega when we were there. The scarlet flowered common Coral Tree (Erythrina lysis tenon) and the ultra showy E. altissimo flower from late winter; the flame flowers of the Coast Coral Tree (E. caffra) appear about now.





The Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) is a sub-tropical tree known for its beautiful and long-lasting purplish-blue flowers. It is actually native to South America and it is considered somewhat of an invasive here, but that did not stop South Africans from planting millions of them in Gauteng.

Pretoria is popularly known as the Jacaranda City due to the enormous number of Jacaranda trees planted as street trees and in parks and gardens. In flowering time the city appears blue/purple in color when seen from nearby hills because of all their flowers. The time of year coincides with the year-end exams at the University of Pretoria and legend has it that if a flower from the Jacaranda tree drops on your head, you will pass all your exams. They must have a high graduation rate!

Joburg celebrates its Heritage Weekend in September to coincide with the start of the city's Jacaranda bloom and we will be taking advantage of some of the Heritage Foundation's walking tours to see them at their peak. And I have been waiting until bloom season to visit Pretoria to see if the city deserves its nickname.

Spring is in the air so go outside and check out the trees!