Thank you again to contemplar@Flickr for today's photograph (original image | BPotD Flickr Group Pool). Don't forget to visit her weblog, Blog de cheiros (in Portuguese). Many thanks, contemplar!
The first time I encountered jacaranda was in Syndey, Australia a few years ago, where it was being used as a street tree. It is actually a native of subtropical South America, but its beauty contributes to it being widely cultivated around the world. Unfortunately, in some areas (Queensland in Australia, South Africa), it does too well – it is considered an invasive plant in those regions.
The Wikipedia entry for Jacaranda mimosifolia is jammed with information on subjects such as nomenclature, distribution and plant care.
Science learning / botany resource link: “Growing Vocabularies for Plant Identification and Scientific Learning” from the June / July 2006 Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. The article highlights an effort to bridge the gap between the plant identification vocabularies used by students and those used by professional scientists. Thanks to karol on the UBC forums for pointing this out.
So this place is becoming a meeting point for friends... Very nice ;-)
Please have a look at our oldest jacaranda tree (over one hundred years) in Porto http://dias-com-arvores.blogspot.com/2006/06/jacarand-do-viriato.html
Best regards from Portugal
There are Jacarandas in LA, according to Raymond Chandler, via Phillip Marlowe.
It is a shame that you had to show a tree that has been pruned inproperly. All the ends of these branches appear to have been tipped (cut off). This is causing unnatural growth on the ends and this doesn't look like any jacaranda tree that I've seen in So. CA, unless it was pruned improperly. Would you accept a photo from me, just a gardner, but know my trees?
I'm in Eugene OR now, but I first found jacarandas in FL where they are very popular. I was surprised to find them here too, but should not have been. They are very beautiful when blooming but we affectionately nick named them "dirty jacaranda" for the mess their flowers make on the sidewalk afterwords. It is sad they can be a pest, but that is very common when you grow plants far from their native home.
PS Love this site! Thank you for all your work.
Where'd you hear that jacarandas are considered an invasive species in Queensland? I used to live in Brisbane and in Rockhampton, and I never heard that. Jacarandas are very popular in Brisbane in particular -- in November, the view from the local lookout is covered in patches of pale purple/blue. They are all over the university and hospital campuses as well as parks, streets and private gardens, and are one of the things I miss most about the place.
Anna, anyone is free to submit photographs. There is no such thing as "just a gardener".
Bill - see the linked Wikipedia article or this entry on Jacaranda mimosifolia from Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
*Sigh*
I first fell in love with the Jacaranda momisifolia in Australias Sydney Botanical Gardens... Flying in I was astounded... Why is there so much purple? Trees? What are they???
They were everywhere and the next day, into the botanical garden i went.I beheld this same purple tree and read it's name. Still in awe, i climbed the hill beside this tree so that I was eye level with the blooms and sat to drink in and reflect on the beauty before me. I wrote:
Jacaranda Mimosifolia
Of all the blues
And stunning hues
This bright purple
Is enchanting.
Of another world perhaps
For it's existance contrasts
The dreary peoples
Powerlessness they feel.
Oh! To draw on these blooms
On a completely full moon
Like a hummingbird,
A butterfly, a bee...
To taste the etheral essence
Might be the key
To a world
Where trees can be
As powerful,
As colourful,
As grand,
As creatively hune
As this masterpiece before me.
A truely beautiful presence in spring!
Peace!
What a stunning photograph! I had no idea until today that jacaranda trees had blue blossoms, but came here to check that out after seeing a painting of j. trees. I've been wondering whether the artist had taken any license with colour and am thrilled to learn she hadn't.
Now, can anybody tell me if it is possible to grow them in southern Canada???
Bill Hooker; As a recent immigrant to Brisbane from Sydney I have to agree with you that the Jacaranda is a popular tree - many streetscapes are adorned with them. However, they do possess a tendency to infest natural areas and the arborist that came to tend our back yard garden the other day did not hold jacarandas in high opinion.
We planted a baby jacaranda in our Florida garden about 6 years ago. Two years ago it was completely blown over and laid flat by a hurricane but we were able to right it after pruning it quite severely. For the past two years it has been supported, and it is now fully stabalized and doing wonderfully, about 20 feet high with luxurious leaf growth. BUT it has not bloomed. I haven't been able to find any information on when (age) it should start to bloom or suggestions for supplements to help it. We are anxious to enjoy its beautiful purple blooms. Can anyone be of assistance? Thank you.
Nancy, that is perhaps a better question for the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. I'm not expert enough to answer horticultural questions.
Nancy Kelly, did you ever get an answer to your question about when the jacaranda tree will start to bloom, whether age or size? I just bought a baby one. I'd like to know the same thing. Thank you, Kay.
Kay, you can click on the link to the forums and then search for jacaranda using the search button in the green navigation bar. I don't recall Nancy asking the question there, though.
I live in the Phoenix, Arizona area. My 8 year old jacaranda doesn't bloom very well. What can I do to encourage blooming? A special fertilizer? Water infrequently? What am I doing wrong?
Kathryn, see my reply to Nancy above.
I believe that we saw these beauties in Palm Desert on a recent trip. It was early May and they were in full bloom. Was wondering if I could possibly grow one in B.C. Has anyone tried? They are a feast for the eyes.