Los Angeles Is Covered in Purple Jacaranda Flowers Right Now
This map plots all 58,000 jacaranda trees currently in bloom across LA.
While millions of tourists flock to Washington DC every spring for the city’s iconic cherry blossoms, we are partial to LA’s underrated jacaranda trees. Lining streets across the city, the jacaranda trees, which are native to South America and bloom twice annually, are officially in full bloom this June, coating LA County in a soft covering of purple flowers and its characteristic, crunchy seed pods.
In fact, the iconic blooms are a defining characteristic of LA: famous Angeleno author Eve Babitz frequently noted them in her novels, likening the trees to “cotton-candy clouds” and the LA Times have called them the “purple tree gods of Los Angeles.”
Between LA and Orange County, there are more than 58,000 jacaranda trees. Certain neighborhoods have higher concentrations of them due to their more-suitable warmer climates; for example, Pasadena is home to almost 2,000. That’s why data journalist Matt Stiles put together an interactive map to help tourists and locals alike find the areas with the densest jacaranda population. Notable streets include Culver Boulevard in Culver City, Whittier Drive in Westwood, North Palm Drive in Beverly Hills, and many more. Make sure to use the trusty guide to help you take the scenic route on your LA travels.
Jacarandas might be flashy, but they’re not the only colorful blooms you can see in LA this time of year. Make your way over to California’s mountain regions to get a closer look at the state’s wildflower superbloom, and if you see those classic yellow mustard flowers, just know they’re an invasive species.