Jacaranda trees: A gift from Japan

Mexico City’s jacaranda trees

, or simply ‘jacarandas’ as they are popularly known, are a genus of 49 species from the family Bignoniaceae , native to tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Bahamas . Their name is believed to be of Guarani origin , meaning fragrant.

Jacarandas usually start blossoming in the month of March, becoming abundant with violet-blue flowers that fill the streets of Mexico City.

In the early years of the 20th century , former president Pascual Ortiz Rubio (1930-1932) asked the Japanese government to donate cherry trees to be planted along some of the city’s most important avenues as a symbol of friendship between both countries. Japan’s foreign minister asked the Japanese immigrant Tatsugoro Matsumoto for advice on the feasibility of planting cherry trees in the Valley of Mexico .

Matsumoto told both governments that it was unlikely for cherry trees to bloom in Mexico due to climate conditions. However, he recommended that jacaranda trees be planted along the city’s main avenues instead.

The Japanese immigrant had introduced jacarandas from Brazil and reproduced them in his greenhouse. The climate was appropriate for the tree to blossom in early spring.

While it’s not hard to come across dozens of encounters with these trees while you wander through the city, there are certain places where their beauty is even more evident. Here is a list of some places where you can see jacarandas in their full splendor:

* España Park

* Insurgentes Avenue

* Mexico Park

*Tlalpan Forest

*Chapultepec Park

*Alameda Park

*University City

*Reforma Avenue

It is worth pointing out that these trees are highly resistant to air pollution and some studies have shown that they tend to absorb lead from the environment.

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