When it comes to tropical, flowering trees, few specimens hold a candle to the magical and beautiful jacaranda tree. If you’re planting one of these special trees, there are a few important factors to consider. Here, gardening expert Melissa Strauss will help you get off on the right foot with your beautiful tree.
Jacaranda mimosifolia is a stunning landscape tree. It is best known for the abundance of bluish-purple flowers it produces in the spring. In warmer climates, it can bloom at any time of year, but spring is the most common bloom time.
I remember the first time I laid eyes on one of these trees in bloom. They are simply magnificent and stunning. Not only do they have great ornamental value, they also make excellent shade trees. They grow quickly, and have a lovely umbrella-shaped canopy once mature.
The jacaranda tree is in cultivation in most areas of the world with tropical and subtropical climates. There are a large quantity in Pretoria, South Africa. The sheer number of them has earned the city the nickname “Jacaranda City.” In the United States, they are very popular in California, Arizona, Florida, and Hawaii.
J. mimosifolia is native to South America. Specifically, you can find it growing naturally in southern Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina. It grows in wooded ravines, bushlands, riverbanks, and grasslands. Much of the native population has been threatened by deforestation for agriculture and logging.
This is a beautiful semi-evergreen or deciduous species that can reach heights of 25′-50′ tall at maturity. It grows very quickly, putting on three to four years of growth per year in its first few years. In its first year, a jacaranda is capable of growing up to ten feet tall. This is only under optimal conditions, though.
When grown in tropical conditions, a jacaranda tree will be closer to its full 50 feet tall at maturity. In cooler, subtropical climates, the tree will be smaller. The canopy of a full-sized mature jacaranda can be as large as 30 feet wide. Once established, it is drought tolerant.
The canopy is lush and rounded, making it an excellent shade tree. It can be single or multi-trunked, depending on pruning. It has a large, open canopy. The foliage is feathery and fernlike, and the leaves can grow to a foot long. The bark is thin, gray and smooth on young trees, developing fine scales as it ages.
In early summer, large clusters of flowers form all over the canopy. The blooms are trumpet-like and the most stunning shade of purple. The flowers persist for up to two months. A mature tree is a breathtaking sight during the summer months.
As a landscape element, this tree gets major points for its ornamental value. It has a lush, tropical appearance, and makes a nice shade specimen. The wood is smooth, pale, and hard. It is often used in carpentry, and for making carvings and handles for tools.
In tropical climates where the tree is common, you’re likely to see it at local nurseries and landscape supply stores. You might find it near another type that it resembles, the Royal Poinciana. The two are similar and need similar care. Small, young trees are available at several online retailers.
This is a large tree, and that needs consideration when choosing a location. It has roots that grow close to the surface, so plant it away from sidewalks and other concrete slabs to avoid disruption. Choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sun daily. Plant in spring or fall so that it has time to establish while the weather is mild.
Water your tree well a few hours ahead of planting to minimize stress. Dig a hole that is as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. No need to dig down deeper as long as the soil is loose. Transfer the jacaranda into the hole, position it as you prefer, and backfill with native soil. Mulch over to hold in moisture and protect the shallow roots, keeping the mulch away a few inches from the trunk.
For the first month, water two to three times per week. If the leaves look wilted, water. After the first month, you can ease off of watering gradually. As long as you don’t see the leaves wilting, it should be fine with watering once per week for the duration of its first year.