How to Grow Jacaranda

Choose a warm frost-free spot with well-drained soil that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Enrich the soil in the planting hole with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is heavy clay, add Yates Gypsum Clay Breaker Soil Improver Granules and fork in well.

Position in the hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it's needed most. Water in well.

Keep the soil moist as the tree establishes. Applying a mulch, like Yates Dynamic Lifter 4 in 1 Mulch, around the root zone will help retain soil moisture. Keep the mulch away from the trunk.

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. During hot and dry weather in mid to late summer, regular watering is particularly important. To promote healthy growth and flowering, feed Jacaranda trees every eight weeks from spring to autumn with a flower fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Roses & Flowers Plant Food Pellets.

If planting in a pot, look for dwarf grafted Jacarandas like 'Bonsai Blue'. Dwarf varieties develop into beautiful and compact ornamental trees and usually grow 2.5 m tall and 2 m wide.

Choose a well-drained pot at least 500 mm wide and position in a wind-protected, warm sunny spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.

Choose a quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Part fill your chosen pot with potting mix. Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the current level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.

Keep the potting mix moist while the Jacaranda establishes.

Water potted Jacaranda trees deeply, two or three times during the week, depending on weather conditions. Feed established potted Jacaranda trees every eight weeks from spring to autumn with a flower fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Roses & Flowers Plant Food Pellets.

Jacaranda trees prefer warm, frost-free climates, so are suitable for growing in tropical, subtropical, or warm temperate zones. In cooler areas, protect young trees from frost until they are established. 

They do best in a full sun position (at least six hours of direct sunlight) with protection from strong winds. Grow a Jacaranda in a spot that's large enough to allow it to develop its natural size and umbrella shape.

Jacaranda trees can take up to 20 years to reach maturity, however, when grown in the right climate and given the right care, will grow several metres tall in three years.

Jacaranda trees can start flowering from around three years after planting. 

Yes! Jacaranda's round wavy seed pods are often seen hanging on the tree from summer. When the seed pod has matured and turned brown, remove from the tree, split the pod open and remove the small seeds inside. To improve germination, the seed can be soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing. Sow seed one cm deep in small pots or trays of Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cuttings & Seeds, place in a warm spot and keep moist. Seedlings should emerge after around one month. When they're large enough to handle, transplant the Jacaranda seedlings into individual pots to grow until they're big enough to be planted out in the garden. 

Yes, you can grow a Jacaranda from softwood cuttings. It is more difficult that growing new plants from seed, but it's fun to try! Using clean and sharp secateurs, cut 20 cm long pieces from the end of non-flowering stems in late spring or early summer. Look for stems that are at least one cm in diameter, cut just below a node (bump on the stem) and remove all but a few leaves at the top of the piece. Dip the end of the stem into a rooting hormone gel like Yates Clonex Purple and insert the cuttings into small pots of Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cuttings & Seeds. Place the pots in a warm, sunny and protected spot, keep the mix moist and hopefully roots will develop within a few months. Rooted stems can then be transplanted into their own pots to grow until they're large enough to be planted out into the garden. 

Yes! They're still rare and hard to get, but white Jacarandas (Jacaranda mimosifolia 'Alba') are available. They are usually sold as grafted trees, often under the name 'White Christmas'. It is reported that if white Jacarandas produce seeds, the resulting plants will have purple flowers.

Jacarandas are deciduous trees and shed their leaves in winter and their purple flowers (which can cause hard surfaces to become slippery) in early summer. Unfortunately, this can't be avoided, so it's a good idea to plant a Jacaranda where the leaves and flowers cause the least annoyance. Fallen leaves and stems on the lawn can be mowed over and caught in the lawn mower catcher. 

Jacarandas do best in deep, moist and well-draining soil that's rich in organic matter. They will tolerate sandier soils and drier conditions too. Jacarandas will not do well in heavy, poorly drained or waterlogged soil, which increases the risk of Root Rot. 

For more fertile soil that has improved structure and moisture holding capacity, enrich the soil in the planting hole with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Potted Jacarandas do best when grown in a quality potting mix like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Feed Jacaranda trees every eight weeks from spring to autumn with a specialised flower fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Roses & Flowers Plant Food Pellets.

Water the new tree regularly until established. Once established, Jacarandas are tolerant of dry conditions and can typically rely on seasonal rainfall for water. Applying mulch, like Yates Dynamic Lifter 4 in 1 Mulch, around the root zone will help keep the soil moist. If there are extended dry periods, especially when flowering or growing new foliage, deep watering each week will help reduce drought stress.

Keep mulch away from the base of trunk to help promote good air circulation and keep the trunk dry. Otherwise, the trunk will stay too wet and make it prone to diseases like Root and Collar Rot.

Jacaranda trees do not respond well to pruning, as it encourages different looking upright growth and can ruin the natural umbrella-shape of the tree.  However, when the tree is young, small low branches can be removed to if required, to lift the canopy above head height. 

Jacaranda trees do best in frost-free climates, however, established trees can tolerate very light frosts. In cooler climates it is important to protect young trees from frost. 

Jacarandas do best outdoors with plenty of sunlight and won't do well indoors.

In winter it is natural for Jacaranda leaves to turn yellow before they fall from the tree. At other times of the year, yellowing leaves could indicate a nutrient deficiency, Root or Collar Rot or a pest infestation.

Fresh new Jacaranda leaves and stems can be prone to infestation by Aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that feed on plant sap. They deplete the tree and can cause leaves and stems to distort and yellow. Aphids also excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to a disease called Sooty Mould developing. As soon as Aphids are noticed, spray them directly with Yates Advanced Garden Insect Killer.

Jacarandas can be affected by Scale insects, which appear as raised bumps on stems. Scale are sap-sucking insects and many types of Scale excrete honeydew, which can lead to Sooty Mould. To control Scale, spray affected stems with Yates PestOil.

Poor or no flowering can occur for various reasons.

It can take Jacarandas three years to start to flower, more if the tree has been grown from seed. So, some patience is required. 

If trees are frost affected, this can damage stems that were going to produce flowers. Jacarandas are best grown in frost-free areas. In cooler climates, protect young plants from frost.

To promote healthy growth and flowering, feed Jacaranda trees from spring to autumn with a high potassium fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Roses & Flowers Plant Food Pellets.

In some parts of South Africa and Australia, Jacarandas are classified as a weed. Their ability to grow from seed allows their spread from gardens into bushland and other sensitive areas. Check your local council guidelines on the weed status of Jacarandas in your area before planting one in your street or backyard.

Jacarandas are deciduous trees and the leaves will naturally drop off at the end of winter.