Today’s protagonist is an incredibly ornamental tree, with lilac flowers and very elegant leaves. We are talking about Jacarandawhose scientific name is jacaranda mimosifolia. It is very easy to find it in botanical gardens, nurseries and decorating our cities in all hot climates, without intense frosts: from the Mediterranean to the subtropical. Its rapid growth and its adaptability to practically all types of soil, added to the fact that it resists some periods of drought in adulthood quite well, make the Jacaranda a highly recommended option to have in the garden.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, care and how to decorate the garden with the Jacaranda.
Key features
Native to tropical America, the rosewood It can grow to a height of approximately 15-20 meters, with a trunk that rarely exceeds 50cm in thickness. It is not a tree with a very dense branching, but it does provide some shade when it reaches adulthood or is pruned from time to time. The leaves behave like deciduous or semi-deciduous, that is, they can fall totally or partially in winter if it is slightly cool.
One of the most interesting features is that blooms twice: in spring and autumn. So if you like to see trees in bloom for most of the year, this is definitely the tree for you. Among the advantages that we have when having the jacaranda in our garden is that it is one of the trees that is capable of absorbing the most amount of CO2. This will help us to have a calm and clean environment to do and outdoor activities. The only interest of this species is not its purifying capacity, but it is also used as trees for alignment of streets, parks, squares, boulevards because its roots have little aggressiveness with the soil. It also has a low probability of falling or limbing, which is why it is widely used in the urban environment.
Origin and habitat of the Jacaranda
This tree that has a quite particular flowering has a high resistance to environmental pollution. It is another reason why it is cultivated with great frequency in urban environments. It grows in Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and some parts of Argentina and the number of individuals is decreasing in those areas where the climate is warmer or more arid. It needs certain temperatures and not so high and some environmental humidity.
Description of the Jacaranda
We are going to describe the characteristics that these trees are capable of acquiring if they are in a favorable environment for development. If the mature tree of the jacaranda mimosifolia It is in good condition and is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 20 meters. Normally if the conditions are not too optimal, it will reach a height of 15 meters. The ramifications of this tree are characteristic for having a crown of almost 6 meters in diameter. It is true that it looks like an umbrella in a natural way, but normally, it is shaped by pruning.
One of the advantages offered by this tree to have it in the garden is that it has a shade of medium intensity, but comforting. The roots are oblique, equal in size and fasciculate. One aspect to highlight is that they are not invasive roots, so in a period of water shortage such as summer, it will suffer a lot. This is one of the reasons why jacaranda cannot be seen in arid or warmer climates naturally.
The trunk usually looks somewhat more crooked and has a tall, bare and tubular appearance. The bark looks like cracked cork and has some shallow gutters and crevices.
The flowers are at least 5 centimeters long and tube-shaped. The color is a mixture between blue and purple and it is a tree that has a flowering time twice a year. The first takes place in the spring time when temperatures begin to be higher after winter. The second takes place in autumn when temperatures begin to lower due to the arrival of winter. Sometimes it may seem like sprouts in summer if the temperatures are not too high.
Requirements and cares
We are going to see what are the requirements and care that is needed to be able to decorate our garden with the jacaranda well. First of all is the type of soil in which it should be sown. Must be deep, fertile, clayey or sandy soil. They are the soils where they can be developed in good conditions. Although it resists some concentrations of lime, it is not tolerable for long. The frosts that occur in winter should be somewhat milder and that sudden drops in temperature should not be very frequent. It is recommended to plant near a coastal place but that it is always sheltered from the strong winds that are usually characteristic of this area. The best location is the one where they do not exceed 100 meters above sea level.
Among the cares we have is to water constantly, especially during the growth and development season. It should be watered twice a week during the spring time and daily in summer. As we have mentioned before, it is a tree that needs a lot of water. It is a tree that does not require pruning to shape or maintain it, although it can be done if the growth is not what we like. It is also not necessary to remove the parts of the tree that are becoming dry to be able to make them develop new branches. This removal of dry branches can be done at any time of the year.
To ensure the proper development of the jacaranda mimosifolia of recommendable the compost. At least you have to pay twice a year to make the plant grow in good condition. The most recommended fertilizer is potassium sulfate and must be supplied during the growth and development phase.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the care that the jacaranda needs to be able to decorate the garden perfectly.
