Jacarandas: Who brought them to Mexico and when?

Photo: Shutterstock

Like endless violet carpets, the streets of Mexico City are covered each time we say goodbye to winter. Everything begins to bloom weeks before spring officially arrives, along with one of the most beautiful flowers we see piled high on tree branches throughout the capital. Do you know who brought jacarandas to Mexico, how, and when this happened?

Here’s everything you need to know about jacarandas in Mexico so you can fully enjoy this species we all love.

Jacaranda mimosifolia—commonly known as jacaranda or tarco—is a species of tree and shrub in the Bignoniaceae family, native to Central and South America.

Jacaranda trees are known for their bell-shaped flowers in deep purple or lavender blue, blooming in large, eye-catching clusters in spring, and to a lesser extent, in summer.

Who brought jacarandas to Mexico?

You’ve probably heard that these flowers are not native to Mexico. Someone had the brilliant idea of bringing them here, and thanks to that, every spring we can admire them.

According to records, a Japanese gardener named Tatsugoro Matsumoto traveled to the Americas in 1892. His final destination was Peru, but he stopped in Mexico, where he was astonished by the way Mexicans cared for plants and flowers.

After his trip to South America, Matsumoto received an invitation from Mexican miner José Landero y Coss to work at his hacienda in Hidalgo.

From there, Matsumoto settled in Mexico and began designing gardens for families living in certain parts of Mexico City.

His exquisite work caught the attention of major figures, including General Porfirio Díaz, who commissioned him to manage the floral arrangements at Chapultepec Castle and its surrounding forest.

Díaz even asked Matsumoto to design a garden for a Japanese products exhibition at the Crystal Palace—today the Museo del Chopo in Santa María la Ribera.

Photo: Shutterstock

Not long after, Matsumoto’s son joined him in Mexico to collaborate on his projects, which continued to flourish despite the turmoil of the Revolution.

His prestige and connections with Mexican presidents grew, and eventually he was given a special project by President Pascual Ortiz Rubio.

As a great admirer of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, Ortiz asked Matsumoto to plant cherry trees in Mexico City. But Matsumoto, with his expertise, explained that the local climate wasn’t suitable for cherry blossoms.

Instead, he proposed planting jacarandas, a species he had admired in Brazil and was already cultivating successfully at his home in Morelos.

President Álvaro Obregón approved the idea, and since then, Mexicans have had the joy of seeing jacarandas bloom across our city’s streets and parks.

Beyond their beauty, jacaranda wood is highly valued for making furniture and decorative objects thanks to its natural appeal and durability. Its warm tone is also occasionally used to craft high-quality acoustic guitars.

The jacaranda is even the symbol of Pretoria, South Africa, where hundreds of violet flowers color its streets and parks. Clearly, this tree is not just beloved in Mexico—it’s cherished in gardens and urban landscapes worldwide.

So if you don’t live in Mexico City, this spring is the perfect opportunity to witness these natural wonders.

Stay in the heart of Polanco at Camino Real Polanco, located in a refined and quiet residential area of Anzures, an oasis within the city’s hustle and bustle. At this time of year, you’ll see jacarandas up close right around the hotel.

Don’t miss its outstanding dining options, from a sophisticated Spanish dinner at Centro Castellano, a traditional Mexican breakfast at La Huerta, or a Japanese experience at Morimoto.

You can also admire Rufino Tamayo’s mural at Café Tamayo or sip signature cocktails at the Blue Bar.

A beautiful story with a violet explosion, isn’t it?