Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family
Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America,
South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas. It has been planted
widely in Asia, especially in Nepal. It is also quite common in South Africa,
Zimbabwe and Australia. It has been introduced to most tropical and
subtropical regions. The genus name is also used as the common name.
Etymology The name is believed to be of Guarani
origin, meaning fragrant. The word jacaranda was described in A supplement
to Mr. Chambers's Cyclopædia, 1st ed., as "a name given by some authors to the
tree the wood of which is the log-wood, used in dyeing and in medicine" and as
being of Tupi-Guarani origin, by way of Portuguese. Although not consistent with
the Guarani source, one common pronunciation of the name in English is
given by . Growth
The species are shrubs to large trees ranging in size from 20 to 30 m tall.
The leaves are bipinnate in most species, pinnate or simple in a few
species. The flowers are produced in conspicuous large panicles, each flower
with a five-lobed blue to purple-blue corolla; a few species have white
flowers. The fruit is an oblong to oval flattened capsule containing numerous
slender seeds. The genus differs from other genera in the Bignoniaceae in
having a staminode that is longer than the stamens, tricolpate pollen, and a
chromosome number of 18. This species thrives in full sun and sandy soils,
which explains their abundance in warmer climates. Mature plants can survive in
colder climates down to −7 °C, however, they may not provide as full of blooms.
Younger plants are more fragile and may not survive in colder climates when
temperatures drop below freezing, so planting of younger trees in pots and
moving them into a green house for winter is recommended.
Genus The genus is divided into two sections,
sect. Jacaranda and sect. Dilobos DC., based on the number of thecae on the
anthers. Sect. Jacaranda has 18 species and is found primarily in Zimbabwe, in
North, West and East of Iran, western South America, Central America, Mexico,
and the Caribbean. Sect. Dilobos, which is believed to be the primitive form,
has 31 species and is found primarily in southeastern Brazil including the Paraná
River valley. The anatomy of the wood in the two sections also differs. Although
usually treated in sect. Jacaranda, J. copaia differs somewhat from all other
members of the genus, and may be intermediate between the two sections.
Selected species Cultivation and uses
Jacaranda can be propagated from grafting, cuttings and seeds though
plants grown from seeds take a long time to bloom. Jacaranda grows in well
drained soil and tolerates drought and brief spells of frost and freeze.
Several species are widely grown as ornamental plants throughout the
subtropical regions of the world, valued for their intense flower displays. The
most often seen is the Blue Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia. Other members of
the genus are also commercially important; for example the Copaia is
important for its timber because of its exceptionally long bole.
Pretoria in South Africa is popularly known as The Jacaranda City due to the
enormous number of Jacaranda trees planted as street trees and in parks and
gardens. In flowering time the city appears blue/purple in colour when seen
from the nearby hills because of all the Jacaranda trees. The time of year the
Jacarandas bloom in Pretoria coincides with the year-end exams at the
University of Pretoria and legend has it that if a flower from the Jacaranda tree
drops on your head, you will pass all your exams.
Jacarandas in bloom have become closely associated with Ipswich and South East
Queensland. The Ipswich City Council have used jacarandas to line avenues,
and commercial developments in some areas, particularly along the Bremer
River have incorporated jacarandas into their landscape design. The trees are
common in parks throughout the city, most notably in a long curved avenue in
New Farm Park in Brisbane, in Goodna, and in private gardens. The Jacaranda
blooms in Queensland around October, approximately a month before final
university exams for the year. As such, local folklore among students is that if
one has not started study by the time the Jacarandas bloom, it is perhaps too
late. The city of Grafton on the north coast
of New South Wales, Australia, is also famous for its Jacarandas. Each year in
late October and early November the city has a Jacaranda festival during the
period of full bloom. A street parade, local public holiday and a series of
events are held. A local public holiday sees the city's businesses perform
street theatre for passers by and street stalls proliferate. A Jacaranda Queen
and Jacaranda Princess are named at a formal ball.
The Perth suburb of Applecross, Western Australia has streets lined with
Jacaranda trees, and hosts a "Jacaranda Festival" each year in November. The
festival is held in the Applecross Village district, and surrounding local
businesses sell products and foods in aid of the local Rotary Club chapter.
The tree canopies in some of Sydney's north shore and harbour suburbs in the
east have a purple glow during late spring.
The main street of the town of Red Cliffs, Victoria, Australia was named
Jacaranda Street in the original town plans of the early 1920s and Jacaranda
trees have since been planted to line this street.
Jacarandas are also popular in the southern and central parts of Florida
and the southwestern United States, notably in Phoenix, Arizona and San
Diego, California. Jacaranda can be found throughout most of Southern
California, where they were imported by the horticulturalist Kate Sessions. In
California, jacarandas are known as the trees that bloom twice a year, although
the fall bloom is generally not as striking as the spring bloom. Tampa, St.
Petersburg, and other southern Florida cities are ribboned by purple flowers
during peak bloom of April. Jacaranda trees are principally found in parks and
interspersed along the avenues and streets. Jacarandas were introduced to
Israel over 50 years ago, where they are in full bloom during May. They are
popular and can be found in cities all over Israel.
In many parts of the world, such as Mexico, Los Angeles, Lisbon, Seville and
Zimbabwe the blooming of this tree is welcomed as a sign of spring.
Brazilian Jacaranda is also used as the wood for the body of acoustic guitars.
Jacaranda can also be found in the South China Karst. The Chinese use the leaves
to make a distinctive purple dye. Gallery
Notes External links
Germplasm Resources Information Network: Jacaranda
Dos Santos, G., & Miller, R. B.. Wood anatomy of Jacaranda: Systematic
relationships in sections Monolobos and Dilobos as suggested by twig and stem
rays. IAWA Journal 18: 369-383. Available online.
Goodna RSL Jacaranda Festival at Evan Marginson Park, Goodna
Agroforestry Tree Database Jacaranda Festival, Grafton
Song of the Jacaranda by Maria Elena Walsh and Palito Ortega, popular
Argentinean children song