In some areas of Sydney the streets are planted with avenues of Jacaranda which, when in bloom, form a magical canopy of mauve flowers which flutter to the ground like 'Purple Rain'...in the words of Prince!
It's quite adaptable and has been widely planted in many countries around the world for its beautiful colour and elegant shape.
Of the 49 species, the one grown in Australia has the botanical name 'mimosifolia'
refers specifically to the leaves which resemble the leaves of the Australian wattle
or 'mimosa' tree.
The leaves of the Jacaranda are long, up to 45cm in length and are 'bi-pinnately compound' which refers to the many leaflets that make up the compound leaf structure. The flowers can be up to 5cm long and are grouped into large 'panicles' which are essentially clumps of flowers which hang pendulously from the ends of the branches.
Jacaranda's will grown best in areas that are free of frost and one of the most spectacular plantings can be seen in the northern New South Wales town of Grafton which holds an annual 'Jacaranda Festival'.
One of the things I love most about the Jacaranda is the colourful carpet it's blooms create as they gently flutter to the ground. Although as beautiful as it looks I'm sure street cleaners think of the trees as a bit of a nightmare! Still, beauty is sometimes a bit messy!
As I mentioned, the species we grow is the Jacaranda mimosifolia which will range from 5m to 15m in height and the canopy can spread up to 10m. So you will need to have a bit of space if your planning to have one in your garden. But they are definitely worth it for the colour the provide.....even if only for a couple of months of the year. And remember not to prune your Jacaranda; pruning causes the growth of 'water-shoots'...ugly growth that shoots straight up into the air like fishing poles which ruins the elegant, twisting, natural shape of the tree.
And if you do have the space, I'd recommend you plant a Jacaranda with the wonderful Australian native Brachychiton acerifolius, better know as the Illawarra Flame Tree. This tree, also used for street planting in many areas of Sydney produces a stunning display of bright red, bell-shaped flowers in late spring. Like the Jacaranda, the flowering is more spectacular when the winter months have been dry.
The colour combination of bright red and mauve is spectacular, and the fact that these two trees only bloom for 2 months at the same time of the year make them perfect planting companions!
So if your wandering about Sydney on a beautiful October blue-sky day and come across a carpet of purple-mauve flowers, look up and enjoy the Jacaranda canopy above you....it will all disappear before Christmas!
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