Jacaranda mimosifolia (jacaranda)

Japanese name: ジャカランダ
Scientific name: Jacaranda mimosifolia

[Overview]
A deciduous tree growing to 15 m tall.
The bark is grayish brown and smooth when young.
The branches extend in a wavy manner.
The leaves are opposite and twice odd-pinnately compound, up to 45 cm long, with 10–20 pairs of pinnae, each consisting of 14–24 pairs of leaflets.
The leaflets are elliptic to rhombic, about 1 cm long, entire-margined and hairy.
In its native habitat it flowers before the leaves unfold, but in Japan it mostly flowers after the leaves have emerged.
Panicles about 30 cm long bear pale bluish purple flowers in such numbers that they cover the tree.
The corolla is a slightly curved funnel shape 5 cm long, and the tip is divided into 5 lobes in a two-lipped arrangement.
There are 4 stamens, paired in twos, and one club-shaped staminode.
The fruit is a woody, nearly round capsule 5–6 cm across, containing flat seeds with membranous wings.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It can overwinter outdoors in regions without frost.
In cold regions, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors to a sunny spot in winter.
Take care that it is not exposed to frost, especially while young.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
For potted plants, during the growing period from spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and keep it on the dry side while it is leafless.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long sunny spell and the soil dries out.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
There are no particular pests or diseases, but indoors aphids, scale insects and greenhouse whiteflies may appear.

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