Kathmandu streets turn purple as Jacaranda flowers bloom

Apr 30, 2022

Kathmandu (Nepal), Apr 30 (ANI): The streets and corners of Kathmandu's main road section are awash with purple flowers commonly called "Jacaranda" which goes into full bloom during the month of March and April. Called Jacaranda Mimosifolia, the purple flower has always been used to decorate the Nepali capital Kathmandu, a tradition that has been kept for at least a century and a half. Jacaranda, a beauty with fragrance, belongs to Bignoniaceous family and is locally called as Jacaranda or Neeli Gulmohar. Although native to Central and South America, Jacaranda has been planted widely in Asia and Australia. Every year the road of Kathmandu's ring road and Kings Way are painted purple with flowers of Jacaranda also called the Hawaiian mimosa tree which cannot resist breeze and light showers. But the recent cutting down of trees in many of the areas around Kathmandu has left admirers aghast. It is believed that the Rana rulers, who ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 A.D until 1951 A.D, brought in the Jacaranda trees, which grow from cutting or grafting by seedling rootstock and normally take two to three years to bloom. This genus thrives in full sun and sandy soils, which explains their abundance in warmer climates. Mature plants can survive in colder climates down to -7 °C (19 °F); however, they may not bloom as profusely. Younger plants are more fragile and may not survive in colder climates when temperatures drop below freezing.