The jacaranda has featured in countless tourism promotions of the city and its flowering season of October to November, leaving parks awash with blooms, is anticipated with relish by residents.

It even features in that classic 1980s homage to the wide brown land, Austen Tayshus’s Australiania.

But Schrinner is adamant the next floral emblem has to be a native and jacarandas originated in Brazil.  He also has issues with the current emblem, the red poinsettia which, despite its fiery beauty in flower all over Brisbane, is native to Mexico.

However, the lord mayor has stopped short of getting rid of this interloper altogether, saying the new emblem will sit alongside the poinsettia on the city’s coat of arms and offical council logo.

But before anyone nominates the flower that exudes like no other the sweet smell of a Brisbane summer, the frangipani, don’t. It’s a Mexico native as well.

True to recent form, Schrinner is linking the search to the council’s efforts to prepare Brisbane for hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“As Brisbane continues to evolve and prepare for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s the perfect time for residents to have their say and introduce a second native floral emblem,” he said.

The lord mayor insists people should not bother backing the jacaranda, giving every indication the council would regard such activity as in even worse taste than nominating the so-called “bin chicken” (white ibis) as the city’s official mascot.

“While the Jacaranda is beautiful, it is not a native species and I think the new emblem must be native,” he said.

He said the poinsettia was chosen in 1930 and now was the time for residents to help choose a floral emblem “that will represent us going forward”.

“The first step in this process will be community consultation with input from residents and local gardening groups to put forward suggestions on Brisbane’s second floral emblem,” he said.

“After that a shortlist of native species will be put to residents to vote for what the species they think best represents our city.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with and introducing a new native floral emblem to represent our city for many years to come.

As for the city’s faunal emblem, it is a bin chicken free zone. The koala was chosen to join the tree frog as Brisbane’s official faunal representatives in 2019.