Jacaranda

jacaranda

( jack - uh - RAND - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes species of deciduous to semi-evergreen trees that need full sun and moderate water to perform well in gardens. They are native to Central America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, southern and northern Africa, China, Australia, Rwanda and Cyprus, and their bright, fragrant flowers will attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to the landscape. Species form large shrubs or trees and most produce ferny green foliage. These are abundantly cultivated in warm, sunny climates and shine as street, park, lawn, or specimen trees. Although these trees are for the most part considered to be non-toxic, they can cause gastrointestinal upset if plant parts are ingested in large quantities, so take care when planting them in areas accessible by children and pets.

Jacaranda species and varietals

The genus Jacaranda includes 49 species and is a member of the plant family Bignoniaceae. The genus name is derived from the Tupi-Guarani word for 'fragrant'. Species in the genus are closely related to Tecoma, Bignonia, Catalpa, Spathodea, and Tabebuia. Jacaranda trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 12, 13, 15-24, H1 and H2, though growing zones vary somewhat depending on the species cultivated. See individual species descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Jacaranda brasiliana (Palisander, Brazilian Jacaranda, Jacaranda, Caroba, Boca-de-Sapo, Castello-do-Cavallo)
These trees are native to Brazil. Bright purple to blue-purple flowers make a great show from November through February (in the plant's native range). Individual trees reach up to 26 feet tall when mature, and bark is reddish-brown. This species thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11.

Jacaranda caerulea (Boxwood, Cancer Tree, Bahama Jacaranda, Knucker Box, Clock Bush, What O'Clock, Caribbean Jacaranda)
These flowering trees are native to the West Indies and Bahamas, where they grow in dry broadleaf evergreen forests and shrublands. Trees produce purple flowers with light cream throats. Individual trees typically reach up to 39 feet tall when mature. Leaves are green and compound. Best in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11.

Jacaranda caroba (Brazilian Caroba-Tree, Caaroba, Carob-Tree)
This medicinal plant is native to Brazil, where it grows in tropical savannah climates. They do well in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b. Lavender-Blue flowers tend to be more pink-flushed than those of other species in the genus. These trees can reach up to 17 feet tall at maturity. The form varies; these can be shrubby in savannas, growing to just 10 feet tall, or more tree-like in forested regions (to 65 feet tall).

Jacaranda caucana (Blue Flamboyant, Caucasian Jacaranda, Gualanday)
These medium-sized trees are native to Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Colombia. These trees form straight, upright trunks and wide crowns. Flowers are large and deep purple, produced in the dry season. These trees are commonly used as garden ornamentals. The species was first described by Henri Francois Pittier in 1917. Best in USDA hardiness zones 9b-11.

Jacaranda copaia (Copaia, Para-Para, Pavito, Machaco, Aspingo, Parapará)
Native to the Amazon rainforest of northern South America, this species produces blue-purple flowers from August through November. These are evergreen to semi-deciduous trees which reach up to between 100 and 115 feet tall at maturity. Bark is dark grey. This is a common pioneer species in its native range, able to withstand extremes in water, temperature, soil, and sunlight and growing well in USDA hardiness zones 10 and above.

Jacaranda micrantha (Caroba, Caroba-do-Mato, Dwarf Jacaranda, Para-Paray)
These trees reach between 26 and 66 feet tall when mature, and produce ferny foliage and pink to purple flowers. The species is native to Argentina, Brazil,. and Paraguay, where it is used as a source of medicine and wood. Best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda acutifolia) (Jacaranda, Blue Jacaranda, Black Poui, Nupur, Fern Tree)
This is the most commonly grown species in the genus, and is native to south-central South America. These trees are threatened with extinction in their native habitat. They can reach 25-40 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide at maturity, with a open, oval habit and can be either multi- or single-trunked. Leaves are ferny, dropping off in late winter, and summertime flowers are lavender-blue and bloom in clusters. When exposed to frost conditions at a young age, they will adapt a shrubby habit. Cultivar 'Alba' has white flowers. This species is considered invasive in South Africa, Australia, Hawai'i, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Juan Fernández Islands off of Chile.

Jacaranda ulei (Blue Jacaranda, Fern Tree, Black Poui, Nupur, Jacaranda Ulei, Ule Jacaranda, Ule's Jacaranda)
With deep pink to purple flowers, this species forms a beautiful low-growing shrub reaching between 2 and 5 feet tall when mature. Flowers are bright lavender to blue. The species was first described by Edouard Bureau and Karl Moritz Schumann in 1897. These plants thrive in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.

Caring for jacaranda

Although these trees are for the most part considered to be non-toxic, they can cause gastrointestinal upset if plant parts are ingested in large quantities, so take care when planting them in areas accessible by children and pets. Jacaranda shrubs and trees are best planted in full sun; this exposure will encourage the most profuse flowering and promote lush foliage growth. Ideally, they should be receiving about 6 or more hours of direct sun each day. These trees prefer well-draining soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0). They can tolerate a wide variety of substrates, including sandy and loamy soils, but are sensitive to standing water around roots. If soil is heavy clay or very compacted, amend planting site with plenty of sand and organic material before installation. Although these shrubs and trees are considered to be drought-tolerant when established, they do benefit from occasional deep waterings during the warm season. They will produce the best flowers and foliage if given moisture during this time.

Pruning Jacaranda trees is simple; they take a handsome natural shape with a spreading canopy and only need to be pruned occasionally to maintain a desired shape or size. Remove spent flower heads and dead, damaged, or diseased foliage as needed. The best time to carry out prunings for these trees is in late winter to early springtime. Avoid over-pruning, as this can reduce the natural beauty of these plants and increase stress and the potential for disease to take hold. These plants benefit from a yearly springtime application of organic compost around their base. If plants seem to be struggling, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime to support the season's growth and flowering. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen-heavy fertilizers, as this will lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowering.

Propagation

Jacaranda can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Jacaranda tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Jacaranda by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Jacaranda by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Jacaranda plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag. Soak seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours prior to sowing.
In January or February, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

In late summertime, Jacaranda trees begin to produce seed pods that are between 1 and 3 inches wide. They are dry, rounded, and light brown.

Each seed pod contains numerous flat, winged seeds.

Problems and Pests

Certain Jacaranda species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. These trees typically have very few pest or disease issues, but can be affected by the following commonly encountered garden problems: