Friday, November 16, 2007

Jacaranda Mimosifolia





Jacaranda Mimosifolia is a fast growing deciduous tree that I absolutely fell in love with the first time I saw one in flower. The leaves are ferny, giving a gorgeous dense but dappled shade. In my garden "Jackie" sheds her leaves in early spring, and are shortly followed by masses of these spectacular tubular lilac flowers. Birds and Bees alike adore them.

Our Jackie was just 2 feet tall when we planted her in 2000, and today she is very nearly as tall as a street light. At maturity Jacarandas are about 33 feet (10 metres) tall, and the canopy just as wide. I paid just $13 AUD for this tree, and it seems I got an excellent return on my investment.

10 comments:

Lavender said...

I love this tree!
When she was about 10 feet tall we had a terrible storm and she blew over! We carefully propped and staked her back up, then kept the water up to her for a couple months to get her roots out again. A year later we removed the supports - she held! And hasnt looked back since :)

BetteJo said...

That's a beautiful tree! Funny, when I think of Australia I think of the outback, more dry and dusty, not lush and colorful! You're giving me a whole new look at it!

Anonymous said...

Hhehheeee, if there wasn't a halt on my bird blog we would be having ANOTHER co-incidence Lavender! The Jacaranda's are looking spectacular at the moment, you are lucky to have one!

Lavender said...

BetteJo Hey thats a great point BetteJo, Most of Australia is dry & dusty, and colours in those parts are more ochre and rust.
Here along the coast things are more lush and colourful, I feel very lucky indeed to be only about 30km inland...VERY lucky as summer is upon us, and its alot hotter further inland

Anon Lots of coincidences, AND perhaps a bit of 'birds of a feather' maybe, Hehehehehe!
I only have two shots of visitors to Jackie, thought Id run them tommorrow and sunday or monday - but Id bet my bottom dollar your shots are better!
I have two birds in Jackie pics

Anonymous said...

I'll be saving mine for after the Spring Parade because the Jacaranda isn't actually in MY backyard ;) The Miners seem to like them ...

Catherine said...

I love the colour of this tree! It's so amazing watching a little sapling grow into a majestic tree. I can just see that wonderful blue sky behind it. Could you take a photo of that gorgeous sky sometime please. I miss that beautiful deep blue.

Lavender said...

Anon Tehehe Nothing worng with a bit of borrowed landscape :) The Little Wattle Birds like it too.

Catherine Sure Catherine, I will keep my eyes open for an opporunity to do that for you - it is such an intense colour in these parts, Cheers!

Lavender said...

Oneida Oh, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, isnt it? LOL I miss lilacs, love thier perfume! Doesnt get cold enough here for them to flower, so thems the brakes! :)

Ces Adorio said...

Absolutely, perfectly beautiful.

Lavender said...

Ces Youre not wrong there Ces! :)