Jacaranda

Sun

Full sun; flowering is poor in shade.

Water

Water young trees deeply during dry weather. Established trees tolerate some drought but benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates a range of pH levels but dislikes waterlogged ground.

Height

30-50 ft (9-15 m)

Spread

25-40 ft (7.5-12 m)

Flowers

Lavender-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in large clusters in late spring and early summer; sometimes a lighter repeat in autumn. Flowering dates vary with climate.

Foliage

Fine, bright to mid-green, twice-divided leaves give light, filtered shade. Usually deciduous or briefly leafless before flowering, but may retain foliage in very mild climates.

Growth

Fast when young in warm conditions; slower as it matures.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant in spring after frost risk has passed, allowing space well away from paving, drains and buildings.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, letting the soil surface dry between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Avoid heavy feeding, especially nitrogen-rich lawn fertiliser, which encourages leafy growth rather than flowers.
• Keep container plants in bright, frost-free conditions over winter; water sparingly without letting the root ball dry out completely.

Pruning. Train young trees in late winter or early spring, after severe frost risk, retaining a strong main leader and well-spaced branches. Remove dead, damaged or crossing growth sparingly; do not top mature trees, as heavy cutting produces weak upright shoots and spoils the crown.

Late winter

Inspect branch structure and arrange light formative pruning if needed; delay cutting where frost remains likely.

Spring

Plant after frost risk has passed and water the root ball thoroughly.

Late spring

Refresh mulch and avoid nitrogen-rich feeding as flower buds develop.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells and sweep fallen flowers from paths before they become slippery.

Autumn

Remove unwanted seedlings and collect fallen seed capsules where self-seeding is a concern.

Winter

Keep container-grown trees under bright, frost-free cover and reduce watering.

• Use as a specimen tree in a large, frost-free lawn, with open space around its spreading crown.
• Create filtered shade over a broad garden area, positioning the tree away from paving that roots could lift.
• Pair with agapanthus and society garlic for a blue-and-purple flowering scheme.
• Use the fine foliage as a contrast to bold-leaved plants in a warm-climate garden.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern tropical, Luxury resort, Colonial Williamsburg, Southern and Brazilian tropical modernism.

Plant it with: Agapanthus, Society garlic, Lomandra, Bird of paradise, Clivia and Cast-iron plant.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other nectar-feeding insects. The branching crown offers perching and nesting sites for birds.

• Frost damage: young growth and branches can be killed by freezing weather. Choose a sheltered site, protect small trees during brief cold snaps and wait until spring growth reveals damage before pruning.
• Poor flowering: young age, shade, cool summers and excess nitrogen can all reduce bloom. Provide full sun, avoid heavy feeding and allow seed-grown trees several years to mature.
• Root rot in wet soil: persistent saturation can cause decline or death. Improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent watering of established trees.
• Aphids or scale insects: inspect sticky leaves and sooty mould for sap-feeding pests. Wash aphids from small plants and treat accessible scale with a labelled horticultural oil when temperatures permit.

Not generally known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific safety information is limited. No part is intended as food; discourage chewing or eating leaves, flowers, seeds or woody capsules.

Where it spreads. Listed as invasive in South Africa and regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It can self-seed into disturbed ground and natural vegetation; check local restrictions before planting.

• Royal poinciana (Delonix regia)

  Also has fern-like leaves and a spreading crown, but bears large red or orange flowers and long, strap-like seed pods rather than jacaranda's rounded, woody capsules.

• Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin)

  Has similar finely divided foliage, but its flowers are pink, powder-puff clusters of stamens, followed by flat, narrow pods.

The species name mimosifolia means 'mimosa-leaved', referring to its finely divided foliage.

Propagation. Grow from fresh seed in warmth, or propagate selected forms by cuttings or grafting. Seedlings vary and may take many years to flower; vegetatively propagated plants usually flower sooner.

Accepted botanical name

Jacaranda mimosifolia

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Hawaii, the lower 48 states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Argentina Northwest, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Measured

Average height 1880 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.