Grafton Jacaranda Festival 2026
Jacaranda
Seasonal cut flowerJacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda: when it's in season in Australia
Jacaranda is in season in Australia from October to November. In Queensland the season runs September to October.Being confirmed
- Right now
- Out of season in September
- Season
- October to November
Season by state
Jacaranda is a street and park tree, not a florist flower, so its season is simply when the canopies turn purple. Brisbane goes first, usually in October, and in recent years some trees have started in September. Grafton on the NSW North Coast peaks in the last two weeks of October and runs into early November. The town has more than 1,700 jacarandas and a festival now in its 92nd year, and See Park has the biggest canopies. When the flowers drop they carpet the footpaths, which is half the appeal.
Where to buy jacaranda
Not sold as a cut flower. Being confirmed
How to choose good jacaranda
The canopy looks its fullest a week or two after the first trees colour up, before the ground carpet takes over. In Sydney that is usually mid to late October, and McDougall Street in Kirribilli is the most photographed stretch, with Lavender Bay and the Royal Botanic Garden close by. In Brisbane, New Farm Park is the classic picnic spot. Go early in the morning for soft light and quiet streets. Florists rarely sell jacaranda because the trumpets fall within a day or two of cutting and bruise easily, and most trees on streets and in parks belong to councils.
We're still finding florists who stock jacaranda. Check your local flower market.
Grown here or imported?
Jacaranda is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Jacaranda mimosifolia comes from South America, where it grows wild in parts of Argentina and Bolivia. It has been planted along Australian streets for well over a century and does best in warm places without hard frosts, which is why the east coast from Grafton up to Brisbane puts on the biggest show. Being confirmed Sydney has plenty too, from Wollstonecraft and Waverton on the lower north shore to Argyle Street in Camden. Trees are raised by nurseries and planted by councils and home gardeners, not farmed for flowers. In cooler cities they still grow but tend to flower less heavily. Being confirmed
We're still checking whether out-of-season jacaranda is imported into Australia, and from where. If you see it outside the months above, ask your florist where it came from.
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- lilac
- purple-blue
Making it last
- Only cut from your own tree, never from street or park trees
- Take branches with plenty of unopened buds
- Stand in water straight away
- Expect flowers to drop within a day or two
- Put a cloth under the vase to catch fallen flowers
Using it at home
If you have your own tree, a branch in a tall jug makes a display for one evening, so cut it the day you need it. Fallen trumpets look lovely floating in a shallow bowl of water on the table for an afternoon. For something that lasts, borrow the colour instead. Delphinium and sweet peas are both in season in October and November and give that same lilac blue, and white flannel flower or pale peonies keep it soft. Clear glass or a pale grey vase suits the palette best.
Where to see it growing
See Park and Grafton's jacaranda streets
Grafton
Best: October to NovemberBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When do jacarandas flower in Australia?
Brisbane usually flowers first, in October, with some trees starting in September. Grafton peaks in the last two weeks of October and carries into early November. Across most places the display is a spring event that finishes by mid-November.
When is the Grafton Jacaranda Festival?
The 2026 festival runs from 30 October to 8 November, its 92nd year, and the Illuminate light show runs nightly from 23 October to 12 November. Viewing the trees around town is free. See Park has the biggest canopies, and Market Square is the festival hub.
Can I buy jacaranda as a cut flower?
No, jacaranda isn't a florist flower. The flowers drop soon after cutting, so it is best enjoyed on the tree. If you want that purple in a vase, ask a florist about lilac or blue flowers in season instead.
Are jacarandas native to Australia?
No. Jacaranda mimosifolia is from South America. It has been planted so widely in Queensland and New South Wales that it feels local, and towns like Grafton have built festivals around it. If you want a purple-flowering native for the garden instead, ask a local nursery about options suited to your area.
Where can I see jacarandas in Sydney?
McDougall Street in Kirribilli is the best known, with branches meeting over the road from about mid-October. Lavender Bay, Wollstonecraft and Waverton on the lower north shore, the Royal Botanic Garden near Circular Quay and Argyle Street in Camden are also worth the trip. They are council trees, so stay off the branches when taking photos.
Related flowers
All flowers
