Stephen H. Brown, Horticulture Agent
Bronwyn Mason, Master Gardener
Lee County Extension, Fort Myers, Florida
(239) 533-7513 [email protected]
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/GardenHome.shtml
Botanical Name: Jacaranda mimosifolia
Family: Bignoniaceae
Common Names: Jacaranda;
Flamboyán azul
Fort Myers
Early December
Fort Myers
Early April
Early May
Synonyms (Discarded names): Jacaranda
acutifolia; J. chelonian; J. ovalifolia
Origin: Argentina; Bolivia; Paraguay;
Uruguay
U.S.D.A. Zone: 9b-11 (26°F minimum)
Growth Rate: Fast
Light Requirements: High
Typical Dimension: 45’ x 45’
Leaf Persistence: Briefly deciduous
Flower Color: Blue, lavender
Flowering Months: Anytime from April to
June
Intense Blooming Days: Mid April/34 Days
Soil Requirements: Wide
Salt Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerant: Medium
Nutritional Requirements: Medium
Major Potential Pests: Occasional
mushroom root rot in poorly-drained soil
Propagation: Seeds; cuttings; grafting; airlayering
Human Hazards: None
Uses: Flowering tree; shade tree; roadways;
framing
Natural Geographic Distribution
There are approximately 49 species of Jacaranda trees and shrubs, all native to Central
and South America and the Caribbean.
However, practically all of those seen in
cultivation in this country are Jacaranda
mimosifolia. This species’ native range is in
western and southern South America including Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay. Cultivated throughout warm climates of the
world, it is commonly seen in southern California, south Florida and countries along the
Mediterranean Sea. It has become naturalized in some parts of Australia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Hawaii, and
Chile.
Growth Habit
J. mimosifolia, commonly called Jacaranda, is a lanky tree in its youth with upright branches and without any particular shape to its crown. Young trees may take several years to become well-branched. At
about 20 feet tall, it begins to develop a dome shaped or rounded crown that enhances its appearance and
makes it into a shade tree of dappled light. The foliage is concentrated at the end of its branches. Jacaranda is evergreen in the warmest, wettest climates. It is deciduous to varying degrees in areas with
colder winters or long dry periods. Some trees are low branching probably due to cold damage of the
growing tip in the winter. Mature trees are thick trunked with vertical fissures in the bark giving them a
close resemblance to live oaks, Quercus virginiana.
Images of various trunks
Dome shaped tree
Early May
Leaves, Flowers and Fruits
The even-bipinnate leaves are arranged oppositely on a stem. They are elliptic to ovate in shape. The
leaf is feathery and up to 20 inches long and 10 inches wide. It consists of a long rachis with about 8 to
31 pairs of pinnae often irregularly arranged from opposite to alternate. The central pinnae are the longest. There are as many as 26 pairs of sessile leaflets on each pinna except for the last leaflet which is unpaired and the longest. Leaflets are entire, short-pointed at the apex and oblique at the base. The leaflets
measure about 1/4 inch long.
The species is monoecious. The flowers appear on axillary or terminal inflorescences known as panicles.
They are upright to completely pendulous. The panicle is loosely formed, pyramidal shaped, up to 12
inches long and 8 inches wide. It can consist of several hundred blue or lavender flowers. The flower is
funnelform with a bent tube and five lobes. Flowers are about 2 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. They
are faintly fragrant.
More frequently, one or two capsules develop from a panicle. On occasions, the panicles may produce
numerous capsules. The nearly round capsule is woody, convex on both sides and measures up to 3
inches long and 2.80 inches across. It is tan-colored at maturity. The capsule is slowly dehiscent. It eventually splits open into two equal parts releasing many very thin dark brown seeds while still on the tree.
Each seed is about 3/4 by 5/16 inch in size, including the two transparent wings.
Leaves are opposite to each other
Leaves consist of numerous pinnae and leaflets
Leaves are even-bipinnate and feathery
Loosely formed panicle
Mid May
Mid April
Seasonal panicle with 371 opened flowers and just as
many nunopened and last season’s capsules Mid May
Capsules developed from last season’s bloom
Two-celled capsule with dark brown seeds
Leaves: Even bipinnate, fern-like, to 20 inches long, with 8 to 31 pairs of pinnae and up to 26 pairs of leaflets
Flowers: Funnelform, narrowly bell-shaped, blue to lavender, up to 2 inches long on axillary or terminal panicles
Fruits: Capsules, nearly round, two-celled, tardy dehiscent, to 3 inches long
This Leaf: 19.8 x 10.5 inches. Top capsule: 3.0 inches long.
Flowering
The tree will tolerate some shade but flowers more abundantly in full sun. In South Florida, in late winter to early spring, the tree becomes briefly deciduous to varying degrees before flowering. Jacaranda
flowers at the same time as Plumeria rubra, Gardenia jasminoides and Grevillea robusta. There might
be as many as two months separation between early and late flowering trees. Jacaranda blooms with a
loud splash of light blue to lavender colored panicles. The best flower display is on trees that remain
leafless during period of flowering. However, through the spring most tree will eventually regain their
foliage even with a multitude of panicles.
In southwest Florida, on average there are 34 Intense Blooming Days (IBD) starting in mid April. IBD
are the numbers of days that a plant is at or above 50% of its full blooming potential. In August, renewed bloom may occur on some trees but in less quantity than the spring bloom and generally with no
IBD. No leaf loss occurs for the summer bloom. The tree is reported not to bloom at sea level in the true
tropics requiring a cool, dry winter to flower.
Fort Myers, Florida
Lakewood, California
h
Late April
Cape Coral, Florida
Mid May
Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia
Early April
Mid May
Over the life of a panicle, hundreds of flowers may be produced. The panicle often droops when
weighed down by its many flowers. Spent flowers constantly fall to the ground forming a blue carpet
resembling a field of wildflowers. The fallen flowers are considered attractive by some. Some trees
grown from seeds may not flower for 20 to 25 years so it is important to purchase a tree while it is in
bloom to meet expectations. If not, select grafted trees or those rooted from cuttings to ensure predictable bloom. It is commonly reported that trees flower better in Central Florida when compared to trees
in South Florida. I have viewed trees at both locations while in full bloom and cannot support that claim.
Planting and Maintenance Guidelines
Plants are readily available in most garden centers and may be planted any time of the year. It grows in a
wide range of soils. Select an area for planting that will minimize cleaning problems and hazards from
fallen petals and capsules. The flowers can be a slipping hazard on wet foot paths. Lawns or gardens
areas are ideal planting locations. The flowers show best against a dark background such as taller trees
or palms, as its lavender-blue flowers often cannot outcompete the blue of the sky.
Plant it without placing amendments in the planting hole. The thin bark of new trees can be easily damaged by lawn mowers and weed-eaters and can even kill the tree. Therefore, keep an area of about 24 to
36 inches in diameter around the tree free of lawn grass and other cultivations. Stake saplings securely
immediately after planting. Remove the stake 6 to 10 months after planting. Water judiciously in the dry
season to help to establish the tree.
Young tree may be tipped at branch ends to encourage a denser canopy. Trim as needed to promote a
somewhat symmetrical crown. As the tree matures, it does not require much pruning except for the removal of dead wood that can limit flowering. Incorrect pruning of older trees may result in a decline in
the tree’s health. Mature trees can grow to 50 feet tall. They are surface rooting with moderately windresistant branches that may break in strong winds. The tree is not tolerant of foliar salt exposure. The
hard wood is fairly cold hardy but young trees and tissue are damaged by temperatures below 26°F.
Pests
Mushroom root rot has been found on Jacarandas in Florida although not seen by this agent in Lee
County. The disease develops on the roots of Jacarandas that are growing in soils that are not welldrained. One of the first symptom of the disease are chlorotic leaves on the lower branches on the side of
the tree that was first infected.
Fallen flowers, Fort Myers, Florida
Late April
Uses
Jacaranda is best used as a flowering street, landscape, or garden tree. This is a graceful tree, even without its flowers. It makes a fine shade tree providing dappled shade. It tends to get too big for use in parking lots plus fallen flowers and pods may be a nuisance to parked cars. Fallen flowers may be beautiful
on a lawn or pavement.
References
Barwick, Margaret. 2004. Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia. Timber Press. Portland,
Oregon
Broschat, Timothy and Meerow, Alan W. 2001. Betrock’s Reference Guide to Florida Landscape Plants,
Betrock Information System, Inc., Davie, Florida
Crawford, P. 2003. Best Garden Color for Florida. Color Garden, Lake Worth, Florida
Gilman, Edward and Watson, Dennis. 2011. Jacaranda mimosifolia.: Jacaranda. ENH476. UF/IFAS.
University of Florida, Gainesville
Little, Elbert and Wadsworth, Frank. 1964. Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agriculture Handbook No. 249. USDA, Washington, D.C.
Llamas Albrecht Kirsten. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation,
Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
Watkins, J.V., Sheehan, T.J., and Black, R.J. 2005. Revised 2nd Edition. Florida Landscape Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Useful Links
Flowering Tree Fact Sheets
Desert Rose Fact Sheet
Royal Poinciana Fact Sheet
Native Plant Fact Sheets
Red Silk-Cotton YouTube
All pictures were taken by Stephen Brown.
This fact sheet was reviewed by Peggy Cruz, Lee County Extension; Whitney Gray, Florida Sea Grant
and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Thomas Hecker, EcoBotanic Designs, Inc.,
Naples, Florida; Cathy Feser, Naples, Florida.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, religion, age, disability,
sex, sexual orientation, martial status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. 5/2012.