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Tree Project.
Jacaranda.
There are some 49
species of Jacaranda that are native to the tropical and subtropical
regions of America including South America and in particular Brazil,
although they are now grown in similar areas worldwide. Jacarandas can
be shrubs and even large trees ranging in size from 20 to 30m.
Typically, they have a relatively short life of some 50 years, although
some live a lot longer and there are thought to be specimens that are up
to 200 years old.
Distant relatives of the Magnolia they are thought of as an invasive
weed in South Africa and parts of Australia, but conditions have to be
right for them. They are quite tender and will not survive outside here
in the UK needing to be grown either in a large conservatory, or grown
outside for the Summer months and taken inside for the Winter. The
“Green Ebony Tree,” as it is commonly known, or Jacaranda Mimosifolia,
to give it its proper name, has feathery, or Fern like foliage similar
to the Mimosa which is what the “Mimosifolia,” part of its name means.
The tree is well known to many Holiday makers who frequent the warmer
climes, and is available to buy here in the UK.
Although Jacarandas can get big and reach maturity at about 20 years
old, they rarely grow to any size in the UK and rarely flower well.
However, pot grown specimens have been known to flower in mid spring at
about 6 feet. Indeed, some UK retailers are offering Dwarfed, or Bonsai
specimens that are already in flower.
To successfully grow them they need a minimum winter temperature of at
least 5 deg C, although, large, old trees, may survive light frosts.
However, at this temperature they will go dormant and lose their leaves.
Indeed, this brief spell in a deciduous state is followed by a burst of
fragrant, white to pale blue/violet flowers in late spring and then they
will flower again in the Autumn. Although the flowers smell lovely when
fresh, after they fall, they have an unpleasant, pungent, foul smell.
After flowering seeds are of course produced and these can easily be
propagated to give new plants, but cuttings may also be successful.
Trees need free draining compost and when watering them care must be
taken not to over water them. In fact they should be allowed to dry out
between watering.
The Jacaranda tree does have some Medicinal properties in the use of
treating Acne, making Allergy Preparations and yielding anti bacterial
compounds.
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