Overview

Jacaranda is a flowering deciduous tree, known for its fern-like foliage and bright purple-blue flowers that cover the tree. According to the University of Florida website, jacaranda flowers most profusely when it experiences a few days with overnight winter temperatures down to roughly 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which the climate zones of Southern Texas can provide. Jacaranda trees will bloom anywhere from April through August depending on the climate and conditions, and they thrive in even poor soil conditions. The trees are typically used a specimen ornamentals in the landscape, but are also frequently planted en masse to line roads and walkways.

Step 1

Site your jacaranda tree in a full sun to light shade exposure. The tree will produce more bloom under full sun conditions, but shade is tolerated and may be appreciated by young trees tree that suffer drought stress more readily when growing in full sun.

Step 2

Provide an easy-draining growing soil where water does not pool in the soil over time. The soil can be slightly alkaline or acidic, light clay, humus, loamy or sandy in texture, provided water moves easily through it.

Step 3

Water your jacaranda tree when there has been no rain and the soil feels dry a few inches down. Water slowly and deeply on a less frequent basis, over shallow and frequent watering.

Step 4

Apply compost and organic mulch around the base of the tree once a year to feed the tree gently and to insulate the root zone. Lay down an inch or two of good quality compost followed by an inch to two of shredded bark, leaf mold or cocoa bean hulls.

Step 5

Prune the canopy every few years as needed to keep the main limbs and branches at roughly half the diameter of the main trunk. This prevents limbs breaking away from the trunk due to imbalanced weight. Remove overgrown limbs with a pruning saw down to the parent branch just outside of the swollen branch collar. Prune the underside of the canopy to raise the height and allow foot traffic to pass by and under, if needed. Use loppers or pruning shear to cut the branch tips back to the desired length.