What is the flower language of Jacaranda?
You may not know the flower language of Jacaranda and the legend and implied meaning of planting flowers related to brief introduction of Jacaranda, the specific contents are as follows:
Located in the southern hemisphere, South Africa is now spring, which always arrives with a fairy-tale-like blue-violet coat. The blooming of Jacaranda adds a variety of colors and romantic feelings to this dry season. Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, is known as the "City of Jacaranda". This plant has crossed the ocean from America, settled at the southernmost tip of Africa, thrived, and become an unforgettable spring scene on this planet. Jacaranda is integrated into people's lives, culture, and politics in South Africa, with many beautiful meanings and not a few less beautiful connotations hidden behind.
From two to 65,000
There is a sign on Selixo Street in Pretoria, commemorating a person named Selixo who planted the first two Jacaranda trees in the city in 1888. The saplings were brought from Brazil by a traveler. It is believed that many Jacaranda trees in the city originate from these "mother trees".
These plants, native to Central and South America, have spread rapidly on dozens of streets in Pretoria with their strong vitality, even aggressiveness, forming a magnificent urban landscape that surprises people. In 1939, these two mother trees were fenced off and a memorial plaque was placed, which was unveiled by the then mayor of Pretoria.
According to the data from the South African magazine Arcadia in December 2021, there are about 37,000 Jacarandas on the central streets of Pretoria, and a total of up to 65,000 in the city and surrounding areas.
Just before the rainy season is the hottest and most unfriendly season for life in South Africa. People's lips are chapped, their throats are tight; plants will wither without watering for a day. Driving slowly through the quiet tunnels of blue-violet is a rare nourishing therapy.
Jacaranda is famous for its ethereal blue-violet flowers. The name comes from Portuguese, meaning "fragrant and sweet". The unique bell-shaped flowers grow in clusters, with dozens of small bells hanging from a branch. Their leaves resemble ferns, opposite, and dark green in color. When the flowers are in full bloom, the leaves are almost invisible, only the flowers are full on the tree, as if immersed in a grand wedding arch. A gentle breeze blows, the falling petals are到处, weaving a purple carpet, sharing the spring colors in the sky and on the ground.
The quiet and romantic aura of Jacaranda inevitably reminds people of cherry blossoms. However, Jacaranda trees are taller, up to 10 meters, the flowers are more abundant, and the flowering period is much longer, from the end of September to the beginning of November (from spring to early summer in the southern hemisphere), with a full 8 weeks for people to enjoy. According to the data from the South African tourism department, as many as 80% of the guests in Pretoria hotels in October are tourists, many of whom have traveled halfway around the world just for a date with Jacaranda.
Symbol of wisdom, rebirth, and wealth
There is a beautiful legend about Jacaranda. A beautiful bird named Mito landed on a Jacaranda tree and brought a lovely woman. This woman is the moon goddess. She came down from the tree, lived with the villagers, and taught them knowledge and virtue. After completing her mission, the moon goddess returned to the Jacaranda tree and ascended to the heavenly palace.
Jacaranda symbolizes "wisdom, knowledge". Therefore, when Jacaranda was brought to South Africa, most of them were planted on university campuses and around. Because the season when Jacaranda blooms is also the exam season in South Africa, there is also the saying of "blue-violet panic". South Africans have a saying, "If Jacaranda blooms and you haven't started reviewing yet, then sorry, you won't pass."
Weekend, I wanted to invite a South African friend to enjoy Jacaranda together, but she shyly said "I dare not". It turns out that some students in South Africa believe that if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head, it means you will fail the exam. Interestingly, there are also people who believe that the falling of Jacaranda symbolizes good luck about to arrive. Since Jacaranda blooms in early spring after the dull winter, it also heralds rebirth, vitality, creativity, hope, and wealth.
Contradiction of good luck and misfortune
Jacaranda is planted more and more around the world, but there is still no place that has integrated into the local people's cultural and political life as deeply as Pretoria.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela mentioned Jacaranda in his book Long Walk to Freedom. He said that during his trial, he and other defendants were allowed to have lunch in a nearby garden, "those moments under the Jacaranda trees in the priest's office lawn were the happiest moments during the trial."
In his inaugural speech in May 1994, Mandela mentioned Jacaranda again: "Each of us is closely connected with the soil of this beautiful country, just like the famous Jacaranda and the bashful plants in the bushes of Pretoria."
The meaning of Jacaranda includes "good luck" and "misfortune", so it is not always welcomed. One reason is that the liquid of Jacaranda can irritate the eyes and easily cause conjunctivitis. Another reason is that in 2001, South Africa declared Jacaranda as a "category three invasive species" and completely banned its planting, warning that they would displacement local flora. Behind these reasons is that some groups believe that Jacaranda "reflects the history of colonialism and apartheid", at that time, foreign trees - like foreigners - were considered superior here. Pretoria was once the core area of South Africa's apartheid system and was also a forbidden and nightmare area for blacks.
It was not until 2014 that South Africa changed its position on Jacaranda. Nelisva, the head of the South African tourism center, said: "Now Pretoria is home to more and more black civil servants and foreign embassy staff, who have injected a new multicultural awareness into the city. No other tree can dress Pretoria in such a magnificent color as Jacaranda." A plant brought by colonists has taken root and blossomed in the soil and sunlight of South Africa, shifting from the exclusive enjoyment of the rich to the scenery of everyone, witnessing a country's journey from difference to inclusion.
The above () introduces to you what the flower language of Jacaranda is and a brief introduction of the legend and implied meaning of Jacaranda, hoping to bring you help. Don't forget to take a look at more experience and common sense!