SelecTree: Tree Detail
JACARANDA
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Photo Locations: Waimea, HI, Los Angeles County Arboretum - Arcadia, CA, Cal Poly State University - San Luis Obispo, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA and San Diego, CA
General Notes
A world-renowned flowering tree from the seasonally dry tropics of South America. This species famously covers Pretoria, South Africa (also known as Jacaranda City), where it has now become illegal to buy or sell a jacaranda, because of the tree’s potential to become an invasive weed. In Hawai'i, this species is also naturalized in a number of areas. In California, where it is much drier, jacaranda rarely reproduces on its own. The leaves fall in spring and return in summer as the flowers fade. Jacaranda mimosifolia has a HPWRA (Hawai'i Pacific Weed Risk Assessment) score of 1 (Evaluate).
Has fragrant Flower.
Native to Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia.
A Jacaranda mimosifolia in Santa Ana is registered as a California Big Tree. It measures 58 feet high, with a trunk circumference of 98 inches and a crown spread of 73 feet.
Family: Bignoniaceae
Additional Common Names
JACARANDA, FERN TREE, BLACK POUI, BLUE JACARANDA, BLUE TRUMPET TREE
Tree Characteristics
Erect with a High Canopy.
Rounded Shape.
Has Partly Deciduous foliage.
Height: 10 - 50 feet.
Width: 15 - 30 feet.
Growth Rate: 36 Inches per Year.
Longevity 40 to 150 years.
Leaves Bipinnately Compound, Light Green, Golden or Yellow or Orange, Partly Deciduous.
Flowers Showy. Fragrant Purple. Flowers in Spring or Summer. Has perfect flowers (male and female parts in each flower).
Persistent, Light Brown Capsule, Large (1.50 - 3.00 inches), fruiting in Fall.
Bark Light Brown to Light Gray, Blocky or Scaly.
Shading Capacity Rated as Moderately Low in Leaf.
Shading Capacity Rated as Moderate out of Leaf.
Litter Issue is Flowers, Dry Fruit and Leaves.
Tree Site Conditions & Constraints
Sunset Zones 12 - 13 and 15 - 24; H1, H2.
USDA Hardiness Zones 9 - 11.
Exposure Full Sun.
Well Drained Soil.
Drought tolerant.
Loam or Sand Texture.
Slightly Acidic to Neutral Soil pH.
Salinity Tolerance is Low.
Seaside Tolerance is Low.
Pests & Disease Information
Resistant to Oak Root Fungus. Susceptible to Invasive Shot Hole Borer and Aphids, Phytophthora and Root Rot.
Health, Safety & Environmental Concerns
Biogenic Emissions considered Low.
Desirable Wildlife Plant.
Attracts Birds.
Special Uses & Values
Specimen, Street Tree.
Cite this tree:
SelecTree. "Jacaranda mimosifolia Tree Record." 1995-2021. Jan 21, 2021.
< https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/jacaranda-mimosifolia >
SelecTree Nursery Connection Map
Cal Poly / ESRI