jacarandas

Jacarandas are flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, belonging to the genus Jacaranda. The genus comprises about 50 species. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Jacaranda mimosifolia, the blue jacaranda or fern tree, is the most widely cultivated species and is grown as an ornamental tree in warm climates around the world.

Description: Jacarandas are deciduous or semi-evergreen trees with bipinnate, fern-like leaves. They typically reach 10–20 meters in height. In late spring or early summer they produce large panicles of tubular flowers, usually lavender to blue, with long stamens that protrude beyond the corolla. The flowering is followed by woody seed capsules.

Distribution and cultivation: Jacarandas are widely planted in parks, streets, and gardens in temperate and tropical regions. They prefer sunny locations and well-drained soil and are relatively drought-tolerant once established. Frost can damage some species, limiting their use in cooler climates. In some urban areas, they have become naturalized outside their native range.

Species and notes: The genus includes a number of species, with J. mimosifolia and J. copaia among the most familiar. While primarily grown as ornamentals, some species have ecological interactions with local fauna and may vary in invasive potential depending on the environment.