Gardening in Spain Jacaranda trees

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 ♪ “Purple rain, purple rain…”
This song pops up in my mind every time I see one of the beautiful, flowering Jacaranda trees.

This time of year (June), when these trees are nearly barren of leaves and as stark looking as decduous trees in winter up north, they suddenly burst forth with a nearly solid covering of lavender-blue flowers.
For about 8 weeks the tree covers itself with showy trumpet-shaped flowers that are about 1.5 inches wide and arranged in panicles (pyramid shaped clusters) that grow at the tips of branches. The flowers drop off individually - the purple rain - carpeting the ground beneath the trees.

The jacaranda tree has many species, but the most common and popular is the blue jacaranda tree with the botanical name Jacaranda mimosifolia (because the foliage of this tree resembles that of the mimosa).
Nurseries sometimes label this tree J. acutifolia which is a synonym.
It is a large tree with fine-textured, fern-like pinnate leaves. Young trees are upright, but assume an irregular branching pattern that produces beautifully asymmetric open crowns as the trees age. The jacaranda tree sheds its foliage at the end of the growing season making it a deciduous tree type.
However, it does not necessarily shed all its leaves in winter unless the temperatures go down drastically.
Young trees will die if exposed to frost, though mature trees are quite hardy.

In the right climate, the tree reaches 12-15 m in height (35-45ft) and about 7-10 m in width (20-30ft). Its roots are fairly aggressive, and so the tree should not be planted too close to the house. Jacaranda trees are ideal for urban street and park plantings and as ornamental trees for landscaping in large and medium sized gardens. They are sometimes planted in small backyard gardens, but should not be.
People can get so carried away by its spectacular performance in flower that they forget that it is a fast growing tree that rapidly outgrows a small plot.
The species, as its dimensions imply, is fine as a shade tree, but thought should also be given to its potential as a focal point in the garden. They create the perfect summer experience by erupting in a blaze of brilliant colour when most spring flowering trees have long shed theirs. Jacaranda's seasonal flower display can be so overwhelming, that it ought to be strategically placed for maximum effect.
But keep in mind that the tree tends to litter quite badly. The fallen flower petals can make a decorative covering on the ground, but they are somewhat sticky, and together with the falling seed capsules, can be a nuisance in the vicinity of parked cars or swimming pools. It is best to choose a place where its stunning purple flowers can be seen easily and where the falling flowers will not be a problem.

These were some of the facts of the jacaranda tree to keep in mind if you decide to plant one. It is probably the most beautiful tree you can have in your garden that puts on a breathtaking floral display, and the best part of the tree are the feathery leaves that make it an asset to the landscape of your garden throughout most of the year.

Written by Marc Vijverberg

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