Seeds (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 100 Seed

The Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) is one of the most spectacular flowering trees you can grow, prized purely for its ornamental display rather than any culinary use. Each spring to early summer, and most heavily in May, it carries clouds of lavender to violet-purple tubular flowers in large terminal panicles, often appearing before the new fern-like leaves flush. This fast-growing specimen reaches about 8–15 m tall with a broad 14–18 m canopy, making it a breathtaking shade or feature tree for an open garden.

Planting

Sow under cover in late winter (January–February) at 20–24 °C; the optimum germination temperature is around 25 °C. Barely cover the seeds with about 0.6 cm of light, well-draining seed-starting mix and keep it evenly moist, not soggy. Fresh seed needs no pre-treatment. At roughly 24–27 °C germination usually occurs within about two weeks, longer in cooler conditions. Grow in full sun in well-drained sandy, loamy or clay soil.

Fertilizing

During the active growing season, feed every 2–3 weeks with a general-purpose liquid fertiliser. The tree often flowers best in poorer soil, so avoid over-feeding mature specimens. Move seedlings into a pot one size larger once they reach about 10–15 cm, and repot container trees each year into fresh, free-draining compost with added sharp grit.

Care

Once established it is drought-tolerant, but water during dry spells; let the soil dry between waterings in the growing season and water only when nearly bone-dry in winter to prevent rot. Good drainage is essential, as wet soil invites mushroom (Armillaria) root rot. It is frost-tender, needing winter nights of at least 5 °C; shelter young plants from cold. Under glass, watch for whitefly, red spider mite and aphids.