Jacaranda

[Jon Chown]

I have been growing this Jacaranda for 13 years and it flowered for the first time this spring. The tree is nothing to talk about but the fact that it flowered has excited me a little and prompted me to do a bit more with it.

Jacaranda 001.jpg

Yours in Bonsai
Jon

[BonsaiBoy]

Do jacarandas make a good bonsai cause there are lots coming up in my garden. Can you reduce the size of the leaves?

[Jon Chown]

I'll let you know in about another ten years. I think that you would be best aiming for a large (two man) bonsai for this species though.

Yours in Bonsai
Jon

[kcpoole]

Jacaranda look very nice as Bonsai but usually do not flower as they only flower on the ends of the new growth, We usually keep cutting that bit off to keep the trees under control

The other problem is they have compound leaves which are hard to reduce.
Advantages are that they are fast growers and take wire really well

Kne

[Asus101]

everyone i know who have tried say they cant be wired, and you have to cut back?

[kcpoole]

everyone i know who have tried say they cant be wired, and you have to cut back?

Mine has had wire on it for most of its life, and I think it still has wire on it now. I recently reapplied it as it was getting tight and I did not want it to cut in.
Will see if I can get some photos on the weekend

Ken

[kcpoole]

Just found one of my older photos with wire on it
Not much wire I must admit. but some.

The Branch on the right was too high so I have had to bend it down hard to help cover the trunch chop there. This has been wired down since it was a small shoot and I have let it go wild so it will thicken and blend to the trunk at that point. It has ahd wire on for over a year and will get cut back hard when ready.

This tree came from a self sown specimin in my yard about 5 years ago

Ken

[mudlarkpottery]

Lovely movement and great taper, Ken.
I've always been told they won't flower when grown as bonsai but I'm glad to see that they will, Jon. I wire mine and the branches are so supple you can bend them into such contorted shapes if you want and they grow fast.
Penny.

[anttal63]

could someone please tell me is jacaranda native to us? i keep hearing conflicting info

[Jon Chown]

Hey Ken, I don't know how I missed your post. Your tree is fantastic, I can't wait to see it in leaf. How do you promote back budding? Do you cut back past recent growth? I have always been afraid to do so.

Antonio asks
could someone please tell me is jacaranda native to us? i keep hearing conflicting info

A quick google search shows.

Despite popular belief, the Jacaranda is not native to Australia, but comes from Brazil and other parts of tropical and sub-tropical South America (don’t say this too loudly in Grafton, especially during the Jacaranda festival!) - it is naturally found in the high and dry deserts of Brazil. Thus, in Australia, the floral displays are better after a dryer year.

You can read more here. http://www.lanerealty.com.au/picJacaranda.html

Jon

[anttal63]

well there you go thanks for that jon.

[kcpoole]

Hi Jon

the tree will readily back bud onto old wood. LEt it grow and then chop back hard and you will be rewarded with shoots everywhere

As I undrstand Jacaranda are South African native

Ken

[Jon Chown]

Ken says,
the tree will readily back bud onto old wood. LEt it grow and then chop back hard and you will be rewarded with shoots everywhere

Thanks you sincerely for this info Ken. When you only have one tree it is sometimes difficult to pick up the courage to cut back past the last leaf. I will give it a go.

Jon

[kcpoole]

Ken says,
the tree will readily back bud onto old wood. LEt it grow and then chop back hard and you will be rewarded with shoots everywhere

Thanks you sincerely for this info Ken. When you only have one tree it is sometimes difficult to pick up the courage to cut back past the last leaf. I will give it a go.

Jon

You got a Piccie of yours?

[Jon Chown]

You got a Piccie of yours?

I will take one today, but it is nowhere as good as yours. Growing with neglect.

Jon