It rained last night and into the early morning, and by eight o'clock Brisbane was washed clean. I went out for my jog anyway, and the neighbours' jacaranda trees were in full purple bloom, petals still holding the rain. Spring in Brisbane doesn't send a calendar invite. It just turns the street purple overnight.
What Do Jacarandas Look Like After Rain?
Heavier, darker, and honestly, prettier. The flowers hang in thick clusters weighed down with water, the purple goes deeper than on a dry day, and every petal carries its own drop of last night's rain.
I stopped mid-jog to take photos, which tells you something, because I never stop mid-jog. The grey sky worked like a softbox: no harsh shadows, just the colour doing all the work.
When Do Jacarandas Bloom in Brisbane?
October, give or take a week, and the show only lasts a few weeks. One day the street is ordinary, the next day every second tree is purple, and a few weeks after that it is all gone.
These are not special trees. They are just my neighbours' front yards, the same trees I jog past all year and never look at twice. Then October arrives and the whole street shows off. If you want to see the really famous displays, the UQ Lakes jacarandas are worth the trip, and my gallery from this season is there too.
Wasn't It Raining Just Yesterday?
It was, and I wrote about the wet week and my laundry only yesterday. The rain that kept my washing indoors all week is the same rain sitting on these petals this morning.
That feels like a fair trade. The dam gets the water, my lawn gets a drink, and in exchange for a few days of damp socks, the street puts on its best three weeks of the year. The jacarandas at UQ get the fame, but a neighbour's tree on a wet Tuesday morning is its own reward.
Why Do I Stop for Trees I See Every Year?
Because they are only like this for a moment. The rest of the year these trees are background. This week they are the main event, and next month they will be a broom problem for my neighbours again.
A short-lived thing is not a small thing. The bloom doesn't last, and that is exactly why it is worth stopping for.
If your street has a jacaranda tree, this is the week to walk past it slowly. Which Brisbane suburb do you reckon has the best jacarandas? You can tell me on the contact page.
This is a personal reflection. The photos are mine, taken on this morning's jog after the overnight rain, 20 October 2026. AI helped me edit the English.
