A blue jacaranda in bloom with its purple flowers
The blue jacaranda, or Jacaranda mimosifolia, is a type of deciduous tree that is grown in gardens all over the world for its beautiful and long-lasting purple flowers that often hang in long bunches. It's also a tough, drought-tolerant tree that can handle a variety of soils and growing conditions. Does this Spark an idea?
Range
Though native to South America, the jacaranda can be found in virtually any part of the world where the risk of prolonged frost is relatively low, so they can withstand brief bouts with cold temperatures reaching around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the United States, the tree can be found in Oregon, California, Nevada, Florida, Texas and Arizona, while outside the U.S. they can be seen in nearly every part of Europe and are regarded as a pest species in Australia and South Africa.
Size
The trees can range from around 25 feet all the way up to 50 feet tall, with thin gray bark. Flowers reach around 2 inches long and are grouped in bunches nearly 18 inches long (compounded leaves). It reproduces using 2- to 3-inch woody seed pods, which it disperses on the ground.
Medicine
The wood of the plant may have medicinal value. Water laced with extract from the wood may help resist infections caused by agents such as Staphylococcus aureus. The wood is also relatively antimicrobial, showing resistance to bacteria like Bacillus cereus and the infamous E. coli.
In Culture
The jacaranda tree is a staple in world cultures and in Australia is typically associated with the Christmas holiday because of its tendency to bloom in the summer (in the southern hemisphere, December is summertime). Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, is also known as Jacaranda City because of the abundance of trees flowering in the spring.
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