Today's protagonist is an incredibly ornamental tree, with lilac flowers and very elegant leaves. We are talking about Jacaranda, whose scientific name is jacaranda mimosifolia. It is very easy to find it in botanical gardens, nurseries and decorating our cities in all hot climates, without intense frosts: from the Mediterranean to the subtropical. Its rapid growth and its adaptability to practically all types of soil, added to the fact that it resists some periods of drought in adulthood quite well, make the Jacaranda a highly recommended option to have in the garden.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, care and how to decorate the garden with the Jacaranda.
Key features
Native to tropical America, the rosewood It can grow to a height of approximately 15-20 meters, with a trunk that rarely exceeds 50cm in thickness. It is not a tree with a very dense branching, but it does provide some shade when it reaches adulthood or is pruned from time to time. The leaves behave like deciduous or semi-deciduous, that is, they can fall totally or partially in winter if it is slightly cool.
One of the most interesting features is that blooms twice: in spring and autumn. So if you like to see trees in bloom for most of the year, this is definitely the tree for you. Among the advantages that we have when having the jacaranda in our garden is that it is one of the trees that is capable of absorbing the most amount of CO2. This will help us to have a calm and clean environment to do and outdoor activities. The only interest of this species is not its purifying capacity, but it is also used as trees for alignment of streets, parks, squares, boulevards because its roots have little aggressiveness with the soil. It also has a low probability of falling or limbing, which is why it is widely used in the urban environment.
Origin and habitat of the Jacaranda
This tree that has a quite particular flowering has a high resistance to environmental pollution. It is another reason why it is cultivated with great frequency in urban environments. It grows in Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and some parts of Argentina and the number of individuals is decreasing in those areas where the climate is warmer or more arid. It needs certain temperatures and not so high and some environmental humidity.
Description of the Jacaranda
We are going to describe the characteristics that these trees are capable of acquiring if they are in a favorable environment for development. If the mature tree of the jacaranda mimosifolia It is in good condition and is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 20 meters. Normally if the conditions are not too optimal, it will reach a height of 15 meters. The ramifications of this tree are characteristic for having a crown of almost 6 meters in diameter. It is true that it looks like an umbrella in a natural way, but normally, it is shaped by pruning.
One of the advantages offered by this tree to have it in the garden is that it has a shade of medium intensity, but comforting. The roots are oblique, equal in size and fasciculate. One aspect to highlight is that they are not invasive roots, so in a period of water shortage such as summer, it will suffer a lot. This is one of the reasons why jacaranda cannot be seen in arid or warmer climates naturally.
The trunk usually looks somewhat more crooked and has a tall, bare and tubular appearance. The bark looks like cracked cork and has some shallow gutters and crevices.
The flowers are at least 5 centimeters long and tube-shaped. The color is a mixture between blue and purple and it is a tree that has a flowering time twice a year. The first takes place in the spring time when temperatures begin to be higher after winter. The second takes place in autumn when temperatures begin to lower due to the arrival of winter. Sometimes it may seem like sprouts in summer if the temperatures are not too high.
Requirements and cares
We are going to see what are the requirements and care that is needed to be able to decorate our garden with the jacaranda well. First of all is the type of soil in which it should be sown. Must be deep, fertile, clayey or sandy soil. They are the soils where they can be developed in good conditions. Although it resists some concentrations of lime, it is not tolerable for long. The frosts that occur in winter should be somewhat milder and that sudden drops in temperature should not be very frequent. It is recommended to plant near a coastal place but that it is always sheltered from the strong winds that are usually characteristic of this area. The best location is the one where they do not exceed 100 meters above sea level.
Among the cares we have is to water constantly, especially during the growth and development season. It should be watered twice a week during the spring time and daily in summer. As we have mentioned before, it is a tree that needs a lot of water. It is a tree that does not require pruning to shape or maintain it, although it can be done if the growth is not what we like. It is also not necessary to remove the parts of the tree that are becoming dry to be able to make them develop new branches. This removal of dry branches can be done at any time of the year.
To ensure the proper development of the jacaranda mimosifolia of recommendable the compost. At least you have to pay twice a year to make the plant grow in good condition. The most recommended fertilizer is potassium sulfate and must be supplied during the growth and development phase.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the care that the jacaranda needs to be able to decorate the garden perfectly.
I really like this species. in fact I planted two in my house since it has a very beautiful flower.
Hello I wanted to consult you… I planted a jacaranda 7 years ago .. I had it 2 years in a pot until I planted it. I would like to know about its roots .. if they go deep or not .. because they pass me close to the sewer pipes of the house ...
Hello Monica.
Jacarandas have shallow roots, so if it has soil, pipes, or any construction nearby (less than 2 meters), it can damage it.
A greeting.
thanks for the data
I liked reading this publication, because I have tried several times to germinate it without success! I will encourage you to try it with the instructions described here and I will tell you how it went 🙂
Hi Nathalia.
Good luck, you'll tell us 🙂
A greeting.
Thank you, you have informed me very well, I am beginning to raise this beautiful little tree. I had no idea that it also has white flowers. In my country I have not seen them yet. Greetings 🙂
Hello Elena.
I'm glad the article was helpful to you.
Yes, the one with white flowers is difficult to see, but surely it will soon become part of the urban trees 😉.
A greeting.
Hello, I have acquired some seeds of the lilac jacaranda and I am going to start the germination process in different ways and see their behavior; Directly on a substrate, in a germinator with damp cotton and with controlled light, I will also moisten the seed as described in your article. I am doing it in Venezuela; I would like to know more about this tree, its wood and possible medicinal uses, let me know if you have any research on this topic. A cordial greeting.
Hi carlos.
Good luck with the seeds!
Well yes, I'll tell you: wood is used to do interior carpentry work.
Regarding its medicinal properties, the flowers and / or leaves are used in infusion to treat gastrointestinal problems, for colds and also to alleviate the symptoms of cancer.
A greeting.
Hello. I would like to know about complete bonsai process. Thank you
Hi Yisela.
Here We explain it to you. If you have any doubts, get in touch again.
a greeting
I love you, I planted one at the end of September of last year and it grew a lot, it is beautiful, only now at the end of autumn and with very low temperatures I have noticed that it stops growing and some of its leaves fall off, help me I want it to get strong again what dwebo will be used to nurture it
Hello Maria Luz.
It is normal to lose some leaves, or even all in autumn-winter. In spring it will sprout again.
When it is cold, it should not be fertilized, since the plant does not grow anyway.
A greeting.
Hello!! I planted a Jacaranda about 3 years ago. It measured approx. little more than a meter and had 3 branches of about 50cm. Now it measures more than 7 meters !! and its main branches as 3 meters. It is immense !! The issue is that it has not flowered yet = (They told me that after a year and a half of planting it should have done so… It is in full sun !! What could happen…? Will it ever bloom… Thank you! for answering
Hi Alejandra.
Sometimes they take longer to flower.
If you don't, I would recommend fertilizing it with any liquid organic fertilizer (such as guano), in spring and summer.
So it is possible that it will bloom soon.
A greeting.
Hello, I just planted one of about 2 m and the trunk is quite twisted, is there any way to straighten it?
Hi I l.
It depends 🙂. If you have a very thin trunk, less than 1cm thick, you could put a tutor on it and straighten it by putting two or three bridles or ropes, but if it is 1-2cm, it could also be done but it would take more time. that the strings would first have to be loosened and tightened a little every 5-6 months.
If it is more than 2cm it is better not to try it, as it could break.
A greeting.
Hello I have 3 jacarandas with more than four years of sowing and they have not flowered, what can be done.
Hello Alejandro.
There are trees that take a while to flower, even if they come from the same "parents", there will always be one or more that take longer.
I recommend you fertilize them with liquid organic fertilizers (guano, humus, or algae extract -do not abuse this, since it is very alkaline-) during the spring and summer, and not prune them.
A greeting.
Friends who say their jacaranda tree does not bloom should make sure that it is indeed the aforementioned species or that due to ignorance they have acquired an Acacia.
Hi! I just germinated some jacaranda seeds. I would like to know how many years it will take to be a nice-sized tree with shade and flowers. How often should I fertilize it and when? Also should you put iron sulfate? Another question, should I go from a pot to a larger pot, or put it directly in a field? Thank you very much, and sorry for so many doubts !!
Hi Cynthia.
Good luck with those seeds!
But you have to be patient 🙂. The jacaranda tree can take from 5 to 7 years to flower and shade, although this time can be reduced a little if it is paid in spring and summer with liquid guano following the instructions specified on the package, and if it is transplanted once a year. passing it to a somewhat larger pot each time.
Iron sulfate is not necessary, unless the irrigation water is very hard (has a lot of lime).
A greeting.
good morning
I have a jacaranada tree that is already about 20 years old, but lately it is shedding a lot of viscosity. I don't know why it is because it had never happened, hopefully you can help me.
Hi Maricela.
From what you count, it looks like it has a drill.
You can fight it with Cypermethrin, 10%.
A greeting.
Hello, 2 years ago I planted a jacaranda and nothing has developed on the contrary, all leaves have fallen silent. Q can I do this in full sun.
Hello alba.
Are you pulling leaves every year? If it is in an area where winter is cool, it is normal for it to behave as expired.
My advice is that you fertilize it from spring to summer, pouring it for example a layer of about 3cm of organic fertilizer (horse or cow manure, worm castings) on a monthly basis.
It also needs regular and frequent waterings. In summer it has to be watered about 3 or 4 times a week, and the rest of the year 2 times a week.
A greeting.
Hello Monica,
I am thinking of planting a Jacaranda tree and I found this article so helpful. I live in Gran Canaria and here I have seen it in some parks so I hope I can get the seeds directly from the tree or, failing that, take them from the ground. In Argentina and Uruguay, where I come from, it is a very popular tree.
From what I could read, I must plant it more than 2 less than one construction or pipes. I was planning to plant it in a corner. I do it at a distance of 2 meters too? After how long in the pot is it advisable to transplant it to the garden and what season is the most appropriate to do it?
Thank you very much,
regards
Claudia
Hi Claudia.
Yes, for prevention it is better to be 2m from any construction.
The best time is in spring, when the weather starts to be nice.
The tree can be planted in the ground when it is visible in size, that is, when it is at least 50cm tall.
A greeting.
That timely! I'm glad I can plant it right now. Thank you very much Monica !!
To you 🙂
Hello greetings, please can you inform me if the jacaranda can be sown by cuttings?
Hello, Robert.
Yes, it is possible to multiply it by cuttings. Cut a woody branch of about 40cm in length, impregnate its base with rooting hormones in powder, and after planting it in a pot with a well-draining substrate (vermiculite, akadama, black peat mixed with perlite in equal parts, or any other) , it has to be watered and protected from direct sun.
It tends to root very easily, after 3-4 months.
A greeting.
Hi there! Very good information, they are my favorite trees, in my house I have a room. But mine do not flower :(. They already have about four years in the floor and they do not flower, they grow leaves and everything but flowers for a lot a few. How can I pay and help them to flower?
Hello Josue.
Thanks for your words.
Sometimes the trees take a little longer to bloom. You can fertilize them in spring and summer by adding a 2-3cm layer of organic compost (goat manure, for example) once a month.
A greeting.
How's it going? I live in Uruguay I have a year and a half jacaranda that is coming with force. Today May 15 I poured a bucket of water with 2 tablespoons of triple 15. But then I started to think and we are in the middle of autumn. won't it hurt? Greetings
Hi Marcio.
It depends on the temperatures in your area now ahora. If the weather is nice and it's not cold, it won't hurt.
A greeting.
Hello everyone, very good article. It seems to me that if you are going to plant a branch or a cutting you have to make some cuts in the part that is buried and a good fertilizer is the lentils. I plan to put some branches in a 20 liter bucket with soil and lentils. Will serve? Thanks
Hi, Pablo.
We are glad that you like the article.
It is a good idea to plant them in the bucket. It will surely go well 🙂
A greeting.
Parapaea mi is one of the most beautiful trees. I just want to know your pruning time. The main log has tilted and I want to straighten it. She's 1 year old
Hi Zulma.
If it has only bent down and being so young you can put a tutor on it and hook it up with rope.
Anyway, the pruning season is at the end of winter.
A greeting.
A year ago I acquired a small tree of about 30 cm and currently it measures 2 meters, it has a green crown perhaps for the season but if I would like it to grow a little faster, it still does not give flowers like the ones I usually see in parks ...
Is there any method to make it grow a little faster?
What are the main cares you should have to grow flawless?
How many square meters are ideal to plant the tree? since I leave approximately 2 meters of distance to one side of my house and 1.5 meters of lateral distance to a cistern and I would like to know if my house could have structural damage when the tree is adult, since I see on my CD that they are planted to one side of the sidewalk and I realize that the root made its own because it literally knocked the concrete off the sidewalk. Greetings. 🙂
Hello Ezequiel.
For a plant to grow quickly, it must be watered and fertilized regularly (without overdoing it with water or fertilizer). You have more information about their care here.
Regarding the distance from the sidewalk and the house, it is a little close. The most advisable thing would have been to plant it at about 3m, so if you can extract it at the end of winter and plant it further away, it would be the best.
A greeting.
Can it be planted near a dividing wall? I need to transplant it from a pot to the ground, what care should I take with low temperatures?
Hi Stella.
Yes, sure, but as long as there are no pipes within a meter.
It is a tree that resists well the cold and frosts of up to -2ºC, I have even seen specimens that endure -4ºC. During the winter you just have to water it little, about twice a week 🙂.
A greeting.
Hello dear friends. I am from Venezuela. I am a fan of colored trees. I have about 150 yellow tabeybuias (araguaney), about 40 two-year-old jacaranda trees. Although I myself sowed my seeds that I buy like this tree, but I notice that the leaves differ somewhat in the shape of about 6 that I buy in a nursery and I have about 20 flamboyants, or red acacia trees, between bucares and apamates. I hope those trees that sold me their seeds like jacarandas will flourish.
Hello Fernando.
Impressive. They must be beautiful.
Don't worry: they will flourish. Being in Venezuela I don't think it will take long. Maybe another year or two.
By the way, I invite you to join our Telegram group. There you can share photos of your plants, doubts, etc.
A greeting.
Hello I liked the article, just about 3 days ago my 3 Jacaranda seeds germinated. I have read all the comments and notice the kindness you have to answer. This motivated me to ask you a question about a doubt that I have regarding my sprouts.
I germinate them inside the house they just sprout. It will be convenient to take them out in the sun. Or even when does he acknowledge me? Thank you very much and greetings from Cancun.
Hello Elena.
I recommend you take them outside now, so they can develop better.
Place them in a place protected from direct sun, and when they have grown a little more and are stronger, gradually accustom them to the sun, exposing them every week or every 15 days to an hour or two more direct light.
A greeting.
Hello, how are you? Today I noticed that my jacaranda seeds germinated and I transplanted them into a pot, actually 2, I would like to know what I do once I have them there and my situation is that I have about 20 germinated jacaranda per pot, which do you recommend that I do?
Thank you very much
Hi Guillermo.
First of all, I recommend treating them with a fungicide spray, to avoid the appearance of fungi.
In spring, you can transplant jacaranda seedlings, following the steps outlined in this article.
A greeting.
Hi there ! My favorite tree is the Jacaranda. I planted three in 2012 but they haven't bloomed yet. I live south of the Province of Santa Fe. They suffer from the frosts, we have protected them a lot. They are three meters high, two of them. The other only meter. What can I do to help them flourish? Thanks!!!
Hello Nanci.
It is important to be patient. Trees sometimes take several years to flourish.
You can compost them with organic fertilizers during the spring and summer, so they are likely to produce flowers soon.
A greeting.
Good afternoon I have a jacaranda that from what I saw in the comments is very close to my house at two meters and I would like to know when I can transplant it? I am from Argentine missions. And another query the tree has a meter of stem and there is separated into two branches, it still does not reach 3 meters in height, how can I do so that the segments join and grow taller not so short.
Hello Vanesa.
You can move it around in the spring, before it resumes growth.
Regarding your other question, you have to prune the branches that grow low, leaving only the high ones.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a project in hand. I am from Tlaxcala, I am growing my first Jacaranda seeds, approximately three weeks ago they began to germinate (May 12, 2018).
What I am looking for is to be able to plant my small trees once they are a little bigger, in places where there is a lack of trees and it can be seen colorful in the panorama.
I want to know what times are better to be able to transplant my trees and the care so that they can grow without my intervention.
And also know if I should have some kind of permission for your plantation. Maybe it's planting 40 trees or coming closer every year or two.
If you can advise me everything I need to know, I would appreciate it.
Hello Jehu.
The best time to plant them in the ground is in spring, when the risk of frost has passed.
Regarding care:
-Irrigation: 2 or 3 times a week.
-Fertilizer: once a month with organic fertilizers (guano, compost, mulch). You add a thick layer and mix it with the soil.
Regarding the permit, I can't tell you why I'm in Spain.
A greeting.
Hello Monica!
I have an 18-year-old jacaranda that was doing great but this year it bloomed very little, then only a small part of the branches sprouted, the vast majority are bare. Now in Spain we are in a very hot season and the few leaves it has are like falling down, I think it is dying. A part of the trunk is like dry, without bark. Let's see if you can help me. Thanks a lot.
Hi Octavio.
Yes, and it is very hot 🙂 (we wrote from Spain hehe, I from Mallorca).
Have you ever paid for it? If not, I would recommend doing it now with organic fertilizers, such as guano or chicken manure (if you get the latter fresh, let it dry in the sun for a week). Put a 3-4cm layer around the trunk once a month in warm season, and water.
A greeting.
Hello, I have a jacaranda on the sidewalk of my house in Valentin Alsina, Lanus. It is more than 10 years old, it flowered little and since last year I have not taken any flowers, its leaves are growing very well, around there are jacarandas, and they are in flower. In November is the time that they bloom, we are in the middle of November and you still do not see any flower appears
Hello Emilia.
You may be running low on compost. Put a layer of about 5cm of cow manure or guano on it, and mix it well with the soil.
So once a month or every two months.
It will end up blooming again, for sure 😉
A greeting.