Many people admire the beauty of the purple flower tree in California, but unfortunately, you can’t simply “wish” for it to flourish in any environment.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, research indicates that the absence of proper care for the purple flower tree can lead to stunted growth and a lack of blooming.
In this article, I will share tips for nurturing the purple flower tree to help you establish a care routine and consistently enjoy its vibrant blossoms in your California garden.
What is a Purple Flower Tree?
The purple flowering tree native to parts of California goes by the scientific name Jacaranda mimosifolia. The tree is commonly called the jacaranda. It belongs to the blossomwood family of the Bignoniaceae.
This evergreen tree has delicate, fern-like bipinnate leaves and rough, grayish bark. In ideal conditions, jacarandas can reach 30–50 feet tall and 20–35 feet wide. They grow into an elegant shade tree.
Parts of Brazil have these trees. But they have been widely planted as ornamental trees in warm parts of California. They are particularly common in Southern California regions like Los Angeles.
To identify a purple flower tree, look for its billowy clusters of fragrant, orchid-like blooms. They cover the tree in a lavender haze each spring and early summer.
Spotting a Purple Flower Tree in California
In the heart of California, the Purple Flower Tree blossoms with vibrant hues, painting the landscape with its stunning blooms.
The best places to admire blooming jacaranda trees in California include the cities of Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and downtown Los Angeles, where large specimens line main streets.
You’re also likely to spot them at regional parks, colleges, campuses and botanic gardens planted along the state’s coastal areas and interior valleys below 4000 feet in elevation.
Thanks to a warming climate, jacarandas have been flowering as far north as Sacramento and San Francisco in recent years.
Their peak bloom typically occurs between late April and June, filling the warmer zones of California with their lilac-colored carpets. Keep an eye out for tree clusters with bi-pinnate green leaves and long purple panicles drooping from branches to identify a jacaranda.
Care and Maintenance of Purple Flower Trees
Jacarandas grow best in sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil. During the spring and summer growing seasons, the trees require deep watering every 7–10 days to thrive.
This frequency can be reduced for fall and winter when rains increase. A balanced organic fertilizer high in nitrogen should be applied each spring to boost growth and flowering.
Pruning is generally not necessary for shape, but old or crossing branches can be removed right after blooming ends. Jacarandas are prone to powdery mildew. Give them good air and avoid overwatering shady patches.
Larvae from the jacaranda moth can cause leaf drops. So, watch trees and use organic or chemical controls if needed. With adequate care, these trees are fairly low-maintenance.
Landscaping with Purple Flower Trees
When used as landscape specimens, jacarandas offer lovely spring color and lush summer foliage to complement other drought-tolerant plants in low-water gardens.
As a large shade tree, they work well near patios, driveways or turf areas. Their woodsy texture also pairs well with purple-leafed plants like ornamental grasses, bougainvillea or lilac.
Plant jacaranda trees 20–30 feet apart to allow room for reaching width at maturity. During establishment, weakness may require staking.
Prune the lower branches to prevent scraping vehicles. Mulch generously and water deeply, either via drip systems or own-root watering basins, to protect shallow root systems during drought.
Where to Find Purple Flower Trees for Purchase
Many California garden centers and nurseries sell jacaranda trees seasonally once they have finished their spring bloom cycle.
This allows the plants time to become re-established in their new environment before flowering again the following year. Online retailers also ship jacaranda trees nationally.
When selecting a tree, look for specimens at least 8–10 feet tall with a well-branched canopy for quicker ornamental impact. Check that the root ball is moist but not soggy.
Avoid any with wilted or yellowed foliage, which could indicate root or pest problems. Mature trees may vary in price from $150 to well over $1000, depending on size and variety.
Favorite Places to See Purple Flower Trees in CA
For lovely naturalized groves, visit the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley. This 34-acre oasis boasts mature specimens lining its picturesque pathways. Pioneer Cemetery in Woodland also features majestic heritage jacarandas planted over a century ago.
For urban forests, stroll downtown Santa Barbara, where entire blocks burst purple each spring. Witness one of the largest concentrations along Los Angeles’ historic Avenida de Colon, lined with magnificent centenarian trees. Pasadena’s Colorado Street is another showstopper come April and May.
Using Purple Flower Trees in Landscape Design
Due to their eventual large stature, jacarandas work well as a shade-providing specimen tree in large yards or along property borders. They also work well as a privacy screen.
They are planted in staggered rows several feet apart. When limbed up from the ground, their sculptural branching gains prominence as a dramatic focal planting near entrances.
Other compatible plants to pair underneath purple flower trees’ weeping canopies include drought-tolerant perennials like lavender, salvia and blue fescue.
Their flower colors echo the jacarandas’, and all appreciate similar growing conditions. Agaves, aloes and yuccas mix well texturally below. For year-round foliage interest, incorporate olives, quince or photinias as understory companions.
Edible and Medicinal Uses
While jacaranda trees are primarily planted as ornamentals, some parts have historically been consumed or utilized medically. In Brazil, where they’re native, the hard wood is used for carpentry. Jacaranda honey, made by bees collecting nectar from the flowers, is prized as a delicacy.
Indigenous tribes also made soothing tea from jacaranda bark to relieve symptoms like cough, cold, fever and discomfort. Laboratory analysis has discovered the presence of antibacterial compounds in bark extracts, backing up such traditional uses. However, more research is still needed on safety and efficacy.
The flowers contain polysaccharides that may have anti-inflammatory potential, according to animal research. Some herbalists recommend petal infusions as a gargle for sore throats or added to baths for dermatological issues like rashes.
As always, only eat things from nature after identifying them as edible. And, eat them in moderation.
Cultural Significance
Jacarandas have a substantial role in Brazilian national pride, as their violet blooms helped inspire that country’s flag colors.
Locally in Southern California, the trees add nostalgic nuance to historic neighborhoods and Spanish colonial architecture from an earlier period.
Artists frequently depict jacarandas in paintings, photography and poetry to capture the vibrancy and delicacy of their spring flowers, which evoke feelings of renewal.
Their tendrils represent hope in difficult times, according to folklore. Many community events, like “Jacaranda Days,” celebrate the trees’ ephemeral beauty and contribution to scenic streets.
Tips for Collecting Seeds or Cuttings
Home propagators can propagate new jacaranda trees from seeds or stem cuttings following these best practices:
Seeds: Allow seed pods to fully dry on the tree throughout the winter. In spring, remove mature gray-brown pods and extract seeds. Store in sealed containers until fall planting to mimic winter rains. Scarification or hot water treatment helps germination.
Softwood cuttings: Take pencil-thick pieces from new growth in spring. Treat with rooting hormone and plant in a moist potting mix. Keep warm and shaded until rooted.
Hardwood cuttings: Take 6–8″ pieces of dormant 1-year-old stems in winter. Remove the leaves and dip the base in rooting powder. Plant in containers, and overwinter in a cold frame.
Grafting cultivars such as ‘Little Gem’ to hardier rootstock can produce more compact trees suitable for small gardens. Side-veneering or whip grafting works best in late winter when both scion and rootstock are still dormant. Patience and a healing chamber are key until grafts set permanently.
Related Species of Purple-flowering Trees
Other beautiful members of the Bignoniaceae family bearing lavender blooms include the catalpa, whose long seed pods add further seasonal interest, and the tropical purple trumpet creeper vine.
While less cold-hardy than jacarandas, colorado privet trees thrive in zones 8–10 with beautiful purple-tinged spring foliage.
For similar floral displays but a sturdier constitution in colder coastal or high-elevation zones, consider planting crape myrtles instead.
Their ornamental bark also provides texture in other seasons. Another suitable low-water landscape alternative offering late summer blooms is the native redbud tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do jacaranda flowers last?
Individual blooms only persist for 1-2 days, but trees remain carpeted in flowers for several weeks as new ones continuously open.
Is it true their sap is poisonous?
While some plant genera, like rhododendrons, contain grayanotoxins, available research found no toxins in jacaranda sap or other parts.
Why do leaves drop in summer?
This is a natural deciduous shedding to reduce water needs during the dry season before renewed growth in the fall/winter.
My tree won’t bloom; what’s wrong?
Ensure it gets full sun, adequate moisture and fertilizer. Young or stressed trees may take 5+ years to begin significant flowering.
Final Thoughts
The magnificent jacaranda is surely one of California’s most regal harbingers of spring. Its vivid blooms, lighting up communities statewide, evoke feelings of warmth, nostalgia and renewal as cooler seasons fade.
Beyond aesthetic beauty, these statuesque trees also benefit the environment through carbon sequestration, habitat provision, and nurturing biodiversity.
While relatively low-maintenance when established, jacarandas deserve conscientious care matching their natural growing conditions to flourish for generations.
Home gardeners can contribute further by planting specimen trees, propagating from cuttings, and supporting local propagation initiatives.
In doing so, California residents honor the jacaranda’s venerable legacy as a cultural and natural symbol of the Golden State.