Jacaranda Tree Seeds 20

The Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) is one of the most striking flowering trees you can grow. Its fern-like, feathery foliage gives a soft, airy look, and in spring it erupts into large terminal panicles of lavender to violet-purple tubular flowers, often blooming before the new leaves flush. Fast-growing and broad-crowned, it is prized purely as an ornamental shade and specimen tree rather than for any edible use.

Planting

Sow under cover in late winter (around February in Egypt), aiming for a substrate and air temperature of 20–24 °C; the germination optimum is 25 °C. Barely cover the seeds with about 0.6 cm of light, well-draining seed-starting mix and keep it evenly moist but never soggy. Fresh seed needs no pre-treatment. At about 24–27 °C germination usually takes around two weeks, longer in cooler conditions. Avoid sowing during peak summer heat, when soil can near the 40 °C limit. Move hardened seedlings to a sunny, well-drained final site in mid-spring (March–April).

Fertilizing

During the active growing season, feed every 2–3 weeks with a general-purpose liquid fertiliser. Mature trees often flower best in poorer soil, so go easy and avoid over-fertilising established specimens.

Care

Grow in full sun for the strongest growth and bloom; young trees tolerate light shade. Once established it is drought-tolerant, but water during dry spells, letting the soil dry between waterings and watering only when nearly bone-dry in winter to prevent rot. Plant in well-drained sand, loam or clay. Pot seedlings on at 10–15 cm tall, and repot container trees yearly into fresh free-draining compost. It is frost-tender, needing winter nights above about 5 °C. A fast grower reaching 8–15 m with a 14–18 m spread, so site it well clear of buildings.