Jacaranda mimosifolia

Jacaranda mimosifolia or Fern Tree is a deciduous, evergreen, sub-tropical tree native to Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. They also call it Jacaranda, Jacaranda Blue, or Black Poui. It belongs to the Bignoniaceae family of plants. It is a beautiful flowering tree that creates a dramatic display of flowers and color in May and June.

If you have lived in Los Angeles or have traveled there during this period each year you might come across streets filled with purple color, as it is used as a street tree in many streets in L.A. It is an amazingly beautiful display of flowers. Pretoria in South Africa is also known as Jacaranda City or Jakarandastad.

Jacaranda mimosifolia has ferny leaves, which fall from February to March. New leaves may grow before flowering or sometimes it blooms before any leaves. Jacaranda mimosifolia flowers are panicles of tubular lavender-colored trumpet-shaped flowers, and they make a very strong beautiful display. There is also a Jacaranda variety which has white flowers.

Slippery sidewalks:

The only downside to Jacaranda mimosifolia while still very beautiful is the carpet of purple flowers created under the tree by falling flowers during the blooming season. As long the flowers are fresh it looks really nice but it is best to clean it up before they die and turn brown. In another word, it does take some maintenance to upkeep but it is worth the beautiful display.

A word of caution is to be careful walking on a deck or sidewalk covered in fallen flowers since it could be slippery and you can fall easily. Often you see Jacaranda mimosifolia planted in grass and the fallen flowers almost resemble the purple-colored Crocus flowers that bloom in spring in the grass through the snow, but of course only from afar.

How to grow Jacaranda mimosifolia:

They all grow in a variety of soils but do better in well-draining or sandy soils. After Jacaranda mimosifolia matures it is pretty hardy and can withstand freeze but it does not bloom if it is in a direct line of wind from the ocean and does not have enough heat. Watch out for Red Spider Mite and Whitefly.

Jacaranda mimosifolia needs usual watering and does not like draughts which could put it in shock yet too much water can make it too lush with weak branches and foliage. It needs pruning which also helps it to bloom profusely. It usually grows to 30 to 40 feet or 8 to 11m. Jacaranda mimosifolia is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of ‘Red Plants’ which are in danger of extinction.