Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Is climate change making jacarandas bloom early in Mexico City?

Residents of Mexico City have expressed concern as jacaranda trees have begun to bloom earlier than usual this year, with the first purple flowers appearing as early as January. 

Typically, the appearance of jacaranda flowers heralds the arrival of spring in Mexico’s capital, which has left some wondering if climate change has caused spring to arrive early.

The purple bloom of the jacaranda has become a symbol of springtime in the capital. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

“The jacaranda usually begins to flower in late March, during the spring season, yet it is currently blooming earlier than expected, with flowers appearing in January and February,” Constantino González, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), told newspaper La Jornada.

He further suggested that winter weather in the capital ended in mid-January.

Earlier this month, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) warned that 2024 is expected to be hotter than 2023 with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in certain areas. The change in weather patterns is influenced by El Niño, a natural phenomenon that causes higher-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific region.

The SMN also forecast there will be four heat waves before July, with the first arriving as early as next month.

However, some experts have taken to social media to point out that early blooming of jacarandas is no reason to panic.

“The use of photos and videos from previous years to depict the premature flowering of jacarandas is talked about irresponsibly,” wrote Arboles CDMX forestry and environmental engineers on the X social media platform

“Yes, there have been alterations in flowering, but they have not bloomed two months earlier, as some news stories say, and the early bloom hasn’t been drastic, in fact it’s been gradually happening for years, ” they further explained

According to National Geographic, flowers that bloom too early risk not being pollinated by hummingbirds or bees, resulting in less nectar and fertilization, which can lead to fewer seeds and fruits.

Kids play in a fountain in CDMX
A heat wave is projected to arrive in Mexico City as early as next month. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

This “early spring” phenomenon has also been observed in regions of Asia and Europe.

“The issue happens when early springs don’t just become the exception, but the rule,” Ornithologist Morgan Tingley from the University of California explained to Scientific American. “And that’s what we are seeing with climate change in general.”

To research whether climate change is causing an early bloom of jacarandas, González is leading a team of scientists to collect samples of jacarandas in the city and compare the data obtained from year to year.

Jacarandas are originally from South America, and were brought to Mexico by Japanese immigrant Tatsugoro Matsumoto in the 1930s. Due to the vibrant purple color of its flowers, they have become ornamental trees across Mexico City and other parts of the country.

With reports from National Geographic, Animal Político, Forbes México and La Jornada

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
The project turns Highway 58 into a four-lane highway and links it with Federal Highway 57 and 85, both of which travel from Mexico City to the U.S. border.

Nuevo León inaugurates first phase of US $1.2B Interserrana Highway

0
Nuevo León Governor Samuel García said the highway modernization project will streamline freight transportation and expedite travel to the northern border, while also cutting travel times from southern Nuevo León to Monterrey.
U.S. visa

More than 50 Morena-affiliated politicians have had their US visas revoked

6
More than 50 politicians from the ruling Morena party have had their visas revoked, along with dozens of officials from other political parties, according to an insider tapped by Reuters.
David Cohen

Lawyer for high-profile defendants shot dead outside of Mexico City courthouse

3
David Cohen Sacal, a lawyer with the firm Cohen Medina Chávez and former defender of Cruz Azul president "Billy" Álvarez, was shot at point-blank range outside the Ciudad Judicial court complex in the Doctores neighborhood of Mexico City on Monday.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity