How to Grow a Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

Delicate, fernlike foliage and clusters of lavender blue, trumpet-shaped flowers make jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) a highly ornamental tree. Adding to jacaranda's attractive features are its vase-shaped or spreading structure and arching or bent trunks covered in light gray bark, though these can make the tree hazardous when unpruned. The jacaranda tree is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9B through 11 and grows 25 to 50 feet tall and 45 to 60 feet wide.

A jacaranda tree grows well in sunny spots and well-drained, sandy loam soil. Eight hours of sunlight every day provides the most flowers, though a young tree tolerates partial shade and grows quickly.

A jacaranda tree tolerates slightly alkaline or acidic soil, and grows on poor, shallow soil, which may encourage good flowering. This tree doesn't tolerate heavy clay or waterlogged soil.

Space a jacaranda tree so that its trunk is 45 to 60 feet away from the trunk of the next jacaranda tree.

Consistently moist soil provides the best growth in a jacaranda tree, but an established tree also tolerates drought. Water a jacaranda tree less than four years old when the soil surface is dry, applying enough water to moisten the soil to the depth of the root ball.

Water a tree four years old and older when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 inches. Jacaranda grows well in areas that receive about 35 1/2 to 51 inches of rainfall per year.

A poorly growing jacaranda tree might benefit from fertilizer. Signs of poor growth include a stunted appearance and small, pale leaves. However, avoid overfertilizing; an overfertilized tree may grow quickly and produce plenty of dark green leaves but few flowers.

Fertilize a poorly growing jacaranda tree with ready-to-use 12-4-8 fertilizer granules. Evenly sprinkle the granules over the area beneath the tree canopy, but avoid the trunk, at a rate of 4 tablespoons per 4 square feet. Apply the fertilizer when new growth appears in spring, and every three months until the leaves fall. Water thoroughly after each application.

Pruning provides a strong, safe structure in a jacaranda tree. Wipe a pruning saw blade with a cloth that was soaked in rubbing alcohol, before and after pruning a jacaranda tree. When pruning a tall tree, stand stepladders or a ladder on a firm, flat surface, and don't climb to the top rung of the ladder. Also avoid leaning out away from the ladder. To ensure safety, leave pruning tall, mature trees to a professional.

Prune jacaranda in winter or early spring, before new growth appears. Prune dead and diseased branches, branches that are crossing, and branches that are more than half the diameter of the trunk. Cut upward 1 or 2 inches into the lower side of the branch, just outside the raised ridge where the branch joins the trunk. Cut downward from the upper side of the branch to meet the lower cut.