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Overview
Jacaranda mimosifolia ' Alba' is the white version of the spectacular semi-deciduous to deciduous Jacaranda tree.
It was originally bred in Florida and brought to Australia in 1960 by George Hewitt
It has delicate, bright green, Mimosa like foliage with its large compound leaves made up of narrow leaflets. These begin to fall in late winter/early spring and most will have fallen before the flowers begin to open.
The funnelform white flowers tend to open in mid to late spring (depending on your latitude).
These are followed by leathery, black seed pods.
The tree has an irregular, open shape and often contorted trunk or multiple trunks.
Grows best in full sun. Once mature it will tolerate mild frost and drought as well as neglect.
Soil: Fertile, well drained, warm soils.
Its root system is not deep so it will compromise other plants close by.
Maintenance: During establishment phase make sure you water regularly.
Feed with slow release fertiliser, raked into surface under the drip zone once a year.
Keep grass away from trunk.
Pruning only to remove dead and dying branches and when you do cut close to the main trunk. The tree will respond to pruning by sending up straight shoots that look quite different to the twisting branches, they will never become twisted and will remain straight and grow upwards ruining the shape of the tree.
Can be transplanted in winter when it is dormant.
N.B. propagate only by vegetative cuttings to ensure the flowers remain white. If grown from seed it may revert back to mauve flowers.
Diseases: None of note.
Invasiveness: During establishment phase make sure you water regularly.
Feed with slow release fertiliser, raked into surface under the drip zone once a year.
Keep grass away from trunk.
Pruning only to remove dead and dying branches and when you do cut close to the main trunk. The tree will respond to pruning by sending up straight shoots that look quite different to the twisting branches, they will never become twisted and will remain straight and grow upwards ruining the shape of the tree.
Can be transplanted in winter when it is dormant.
N.B. propagate only by vegetative cuttings to ensure the flowers remain white. If grown from seed it may revert back to mauve flowers.
Other Species: 50 species in all.
Author: Bob Saunders.