(Lisbon) Every spring, the streets of Lisbon are covered in vibrant shades of blue and mauve. The image of blooming jacarandas, an exotic tree introduced in the 19th century, has become one of the postcards of the Portuguese capital.
“Jacarandas are found throughout the country, but in Lisbon they have adapted best” to the local climate, explains AFP Ana Luisa Soares, director of the Ajuda Botanical Garden, where the first trees imported from Brazil were planted. the former Portuguese colonies.
Jacaranda trees were introduced to Portugal in the early 19th century, when the royal family was exiled to Brazil to escape French invasions.
During the king’s absence, the blue color of this tree, which was associated with the monarchy, made it a means of “demonstrating royal power,” the Lisbon Tourist Office notes on its website.
Jacarandas spread thanks to Félix Avelar Botero, considered the father of botany in Portugal, who “then began to offer seeds of this tree” throughout the city, specifies Mme Soares.
This landscape architect heads a botanical garden, founded in the 18th century, which brings together countless species from former Portuguese colonies in Africa, South America and Asia.
Since their introduction, the number of jacaranda trees in the capital has continued to grow.
“It is a tree that does not cause many problems. She has a long lifespan and almost always blooms. It is a species that has adapted exceptionally well,” explains Ana Julia Francisco, one of the managers of the environmental department of Lisbon City Hall.
“Fairy”
Even today, the municipality continues to plant jacaranda trees, avoiding windy places where they are more difficult to develop.
In Rossio Square, the nerve center of old Lisbon with its black and white cobblestones, or in the streets leading to the Marquis of Pombal roundabout, the large central square of the capital, we find jacaranda trees in the most popular neighborhoods .
In the age of Instagram and social networks, tourists, who like to take photos of themselves in front of the flowering trees and the carpets of purple petals that cover the sidewalks of the capital when they begin to fall, contribute to their popularity.
“That’s amazing!” exclaims Cheryl Mitchel, a 76-year-old retiree from Atlanta, United States, who enjoys taking photos of them.
“It feels very spring-like. It’s magical. I think it represents Lisbon well,” said Magali Cirillo, a 34-year-old French social worker, on holiday in Lisbon.
Also very popular with Lisbon residents, jacarandas sometimes receive some criticism due to the discomfort caused by the flowers falling to the ground and decomposing, covering the sidewalks with a sticky substance.
When planting new trees, the municipality tries to avoid as many places as possible that could cause nuisance to local residents.
“But their beauty is worth some discomfort!” », assures Mme Francisco with a smile.