Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Jacaranda Tree
Jacaranda is the tree that covers itself in clusters of lavender-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in late spring, usually around May in the Valley. It has fine, fern-like leaves and an open, spreading canopy that makes a good shade tree once it has room to grow. It needs full sun and deep, regular water in the warm months. Plant it as a specimen in a large yard where you can see the spring bloom.
Best for: a flowering specimen or shade tree in a large yard, open front yards that show off the spring bloom, and wide spaces away from pools.
Plant it where you can see it from the house or street. Clusters of lavender-blue flowers cover the tree in late spring, usually for a couple of weeks around May in the Valley.
It grows into an open, spreading canopy that makes a good shade tree. Give it room, at least 20 feet from the next tree, since it can reach 25 to 50 feet.
Fallen flowers carpet the ground under the tree, and it drops leaves and seed pods too. Keep it away from pool decks and patios if you do not want to sweep.
Hard frosts can damage it, and young trees need cover on the coldest nights. The trunk sunburns easily in Phoenix heat. Severe pruning can kill it.
- Tree to tree20 ft apart
- Open yard or street row20 ft or more apart
Water a new tree every day or two in summer for the first two weeks, then ease to about weekly by the second month. After that, give it deep, regular soaks through the warm months to keep the canopy full.
Young jacarandas are frost tender, and hard frosts can damage even older trees. Cover a young tree on the coldest nights. Wait until frost danger passes in spring before cutting off damaged growth.
The trunk sunburns easily in Phoenix heat. Protect a young trunk in summer, and raise the canopy slowly, since heavy pruning exposes bark to the sun.
Train a young tree to one main trunk. After that, prune lightly in winter before new growth, and remove dead branches. Severe pruning can kill a jacaranda.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
When do jacaranda trees bloom in Phoenix?
They bloom in late spring, usually for a couple of weeks around May. Plant it in full sun for the best bloom.
How big does a jacaranda tree get?
It can reach 25 to 50 feet tall, with a spread of about 15 to 30 feet. Plant it where it has plenty of room to grow.
Can jacaranda grow in Phoenix?
Yes, in the right spot. Give it full sun, deep regular water in the warm months, frost cover when young, and protection for the trunk from summer sunburn.
How cold hardy is a jacaranda?
It is rated to about 27°F, and older trees handle a bit colder. Young trees are frost tender, so cover them on the coldest nights.
Does jacaranda lose its leaves?
Yes. It drops its fern-like leaves in the middle of winter and leafs out again in spring.
How often should I water a jacaranda tree?
Water a new tree often for the first two weeks, then ease to about weekly by the second month. After that, give it deep, regular soaks through the warm months.
Are jacaranda trees messy?
They drop a moderate amount of leaves, flowers and seed pods. The fallen flowers carpet the ground in May, so plant it away from pools and patios if you do not want to sweep.
How do you prune a jacaranda?
Train a young tree to one main trunk, then prune lightly in winter before new growth. Remove dead branches, and avoid heavy cuts, since severe pruning can kill it.
Does a jacaranda trunk get sunburned?
Yes. The trunk sunburns easily in Phoenix heat, especially bark that pruning has newly exposed. Protect a young trunk in summer and raise the canopy only a little at a time.
How far apart should I plant jacaranda trees?
Plant them at least 20 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab shows the options.
What soil does jacaranda need?
It tolerates most soils that drain well, except very alkaline soil. Break through any caliche before planting so water drains.
Jacaranda Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Jacaranda is grown for its lavender-blue flowers in late spring and its fern-like leaves. It is a big tree, and in the Valley it needs the right spot to do well. Below you will find its size, bloom time, water, frost and sunburn care, pruning and what to expect from the flower drop.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
When do jacarandas bloom in Arizona?
In the Valley they bloom in late spring, usually around May. The lavender-blue flowers last a couple of weeks and then carpet the ground under the tree.
Can you grow a jacaranda tree in Phoenix?
Yes, with the right spot. It needs full sun, room to spread, deep regular water in the warm months, frost cover when young and protection from trunk sunburn.
How big do jacaranda trees get in Arizona?
Jacaranda can reach 25 to 50 feet tall with a spread of about 15 to 30 feet. Plant it where it has room to spread.
How far apart to plant jacaranda trees
Plant jacarandas at least 20 feet apart, center to center, so each canopy has room to spread.
Jacaranda frost damage in Phoenix
It is rated to about 27°F, and young trees are frost tender. Cover young trees on the coldest nights, and wait until spring to cut off damaged growth.
Jacaranda trunk sunburn in the desert
The trunk sunburns easily in Phoenix heat. Protect a young trunk in summer, and raise the canopy slowly instead of pruning heavily.
Is a jacaranda tree messy near a pool?
It drops a moderate amount of leaves, flowers and seed pods, and the flowers carpet the ground in May. Plant it away from pools and patios if cleanup matters to you.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.