Tree
Jacaranda
Jacaranda mimosifolia · Bignoniaceae
Also called: Blue Jacaranda, Black Poui, Fern Tree
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) is a moderate-water tree well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Jacaranda at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun (avoid intense reflected western exposure on young trunks to prevent sunscald)
- Mature size
- 25-40 ft tall and 25-45 ft wide, with a spreading, often umbrella-shaped canopy and fine fern-like foliage.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- Lavender-blue to purple (trumpet-shaped, lightly fragrant), Late spring (typically April-June in the low desert; may rebloom lightly in summer)
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-sensitive; hardy only to about 25-27°F. Young trees are damaged by Tucson's hard freezes—protect young/tender trees with frost cloth on freezing nights and site in a warm microclimate.
- Soil
- Prefers deep, well-drained soil; tolerates Tucson's alkaline soils but is prone to iron chlorosis in heavy or poorly drained ground.
- Native range
- South America (northwestern Argentina and Bolivia)
- Best used as
- Flowering ornamental/specimen, Spring color accent, Patio/courtyard shade in warm microclimates
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
- Toxicity
- Generally considered low toxicity; not a major hazard, though plant parts are not for consumption and fallen flowers/litter can be slippery.
How to grow Jacaranda in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Needs regular deep water in the low desert, especially in summer heat (water when temperatures exceed ~95°F). Soak to 2-3 ft every 7-14 days in summer, less in spring/fall, and roughly monthly in winter. Drought stress reduces flowering and causes leaf drop.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light spring feeding with a balanced fertilizer supports growth and bloom; avoid excess nitrogen, which can promote foliage at the expense of flowers. Treat alkaline-soil iron chlorosis with chelated iron.
Pruning & care
Prune in winter/early spring while dormant to develop a strong single leader and well-spaced scaffolds; jacaranda tends toward weak, co-dominant branching. Remove frost-damaged wood after the last freeze, not before.
Notes
Prized for its spectacular lavender-blue spring bloom but a marginal performer in the hottest, coldest parts of the Tucson area—best in protected, frost-free microclimates with good soil and regular water. Heat-stressed in extreme summer sun and frost-tender when young; mature, established trees are hardier. Drops flowers, leaflets, and seed pods (litter).
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona State University desert landscape plant database; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder