Jacaranda trees are tropical beauties with clusters of fragrant, purple, trumpet-shaped blooms which are 1-1/2 inch long curved with inner white throats.

 

The heaviest-flowering happens when grown in full sun, it can tolerate light shade and will grow quickly. Jacarandas often have an  open, irregular and oval headed growth habit; its stout trunk, gray rectangular flaked bark and alternately arranged finely divided bipinnately compound leaves that are at least a foot long and composed of 1/2 inch long narrow elliptical leaflets that give the tree a delicate fernlike appearance.

Jacarandas thrive in sandy, well-drained soils but should be watered during dry periods.  Plant in full sun with occasional deep summer watering and preferably in a soil that drains well.

Jacarandas will often survive in heavier soils but growth is slow and sometimes stunted; flowers and leaves may cause a lot of litter when they drop. 

Jacaranda trees tend to form vertical suckers when pruned that distort the shape of the tree.  If pruning, only remove broken or diseased branches; so avoid pruning your Jacaranda.

Scientific Name: Jacaranda mimosifolia

Common Name: Jacaranda

Family Name: Bignoniaceae                        Origin: Brazil                 

Plant Type: Tree                                                 Leaf Type: deciduous

Density: open                                                      Texture: fine                

Height ft. 25′-40′                                              Width ft. 15′-30′  

Form: irregular, oval                                          Growth Rate: fast                 

Leaf Type: bipinnately compound, odd-pinnately compound    

Leaf Arrangement: alternante                  

Leaf Shape: obovate; rhomboid                  Leaf Size: 2″ 

Leaflet Size:                                                          Leaf Margin: entire    

Leaf Color: green                                                Leaf Fragrance: yes   

Flower Showy: yes                                            Flower Cluster Type: panicle 

Flower Season: Spring – Summer               Cut Flower: no     

Flower Fragrance: yes    

Flower Color: purple, blue, lavender        Fruit Type: round, pod-like  

Fruit Size: 1-3″                                                    Fruit Edible: no 

Fruit Color: brown                                             Fruit Showy: yes             

Bark Color: gray-brown                                 Root Type: surface roots                

USES: : large parking lot islands, wide lawns, shade trees, specimen tree, residential street tree, mass planting.                             

Sun Exposure: full sun                                    Climate:  zones 12-24

Water: water during dry periods, deep and infrequent.    

Pruning: no   

Propagation: cuttings, grafting, seeds                

COMMENTS: Pruning Jacarandas will spoil their good looks, and the tree’s shape. When you prune a Jacaranda it then sends up vertical shoots. The normal shape for a Jacaranda is that of an elegant umbrella, and the appearance of vertical branches ruins its good looks. 

Jacarandas are well-suited for cooling patios, but should not be used near pools due to the abundant leaf and flower drop.