Jacaranda Sydney


EVERY year from October to November, a tide of purple petals washes over Sydney as the jacaranda season comes into bloom.

While Grafton is known as the epicentre of this purple haze in NSW, thanks to its famous Jacaranda Festival, Sydney’s lilac trees still put on an impressive show.

Jacarandas are not native to Australia but became so popular in the 19th century once horticulturalists mastered their propagation, they were planted across the city, with many of the early plantings still standing today.

NORTH SHORE

Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville and Wollstonecraft. Pack a picnic and find a spot to enjoy a long, lazy lunch under the trees.

EASTERN SUBURBS

Head to Oxford St, Glenmore Rd and Five Ways in Paddington which always have a great selection to view. Nearby Woollahra and Double Bay also boast stunning lilac hues.

CBD

Begin your jacaranda walking tour in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, where 16 beautiful trees can be discovered, including a unique white flowering variety, then pass through Circular Quay and The Rocks — against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour, the view is breathtaking.

INNER SYDNEY

The beloved jacaranda tree planted in 1928 in the University of Sydney quadrangle toppled over last year after a fungal infection got the better of it. Fortunately, the uni was prepared for it’s impending doom, and a cutting was taken in 2014 to produce several clones, which have now been replanted. It’s a way to go before it reaches the legendary status of the old one. However, there are still close to 40 other jacarandas on campus, and neighbouring suburbs of Glebe, Camperdown and Erskineville are also worth exploring.