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Jacaranda Wikimedia Commons
Bignoniaceae

Jacaranda

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Wisdom, rebirth, wealth, good luck.

Family
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Jacaranda
Native to
South America (Argentina, Bolivia)
Bloom season
Late Spring, Early Summer
Type
deciduous tree
Height
10–20 m
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy
Water
Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Hardiness
9–11
Lifespan
50+ years

Did you know

  • Jacarandas transform entire cities into purple wonderlands when they bloom — most famously in Pretoria (the 'Jacaranda City' of South Africa), Sydney, and Buenos Aires.
  • Although iconic in South Africa, jacarandas are not native there — they were introduced from South America in the 1880s and are now considered invasive in some areas.
  • In Australia, university students call jacaranda blooming 'panic season' — when the purple flowers appear, end-of-year exams are imminent.
  • Jacaranda wood is sometimes called 'palisander' and is used for fine furniture and musical instruments.
  • Each flower lasts only a few days, but they fall in such abundance that they carpet streets in lavender for weeks.

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Street tree
  • Wood (palisander)