A jacaranda tree in full bloom
The jacaranda tree is one of the more unusual and striking trees you can plant in a garden. Once you see a jacaranda tree in bloom, it is a sight you will not soon forget. Native to Brazil and Argentina, these tropical weather loving trees produce foot-long clusters of tube-shaped, white or light purple to dark lavender, 1 1/2-inch-wide flowers that cover the tree in a mass of color. Jacaranda trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11. You may grow them from seed, although germination can require one to two months' time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Collect fresh seeds from a jacaranda tree. Seeds can usually be collected at any time during the plant's blooming seasons, one of which is in the month of May and another in September. The seeds are ripe when they turn light brown to tan in color.
2. Scratch or nick each of the seeds using a small hobby knife, a nail file or a piece of fine sandpaper. The idea is to remove just a small section of the seed coat, about 1/8 inch.
3. Fill a small bowl, saucer or saucepan with water. Place the jacaranda seeds into the water and let them soak for 24 hours, but no longer.
4. Scoop a good-quality humus-rich potting mix into 1-gallon pots until each is full to about 1 inch from the top. Using 1-gallon pots will allow the jacaranda trees time to grow to a decent size before transplanting.
5. Place the 1-gallon pots into a sheltered location in your garden or in a greenhouse. The temperature should not be allowed to go below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Saturate the potting mix with water. Pack the mix firmly into the pots using your hands or a block of wood. If necessary, add more potting mix to keep the mix 1 inch from the top.
7. Poke two holes in each of the 1-gallon pots using a pencil or chopstick. Plant two jacaranda seeds in each of the holes.
8. Scoop approximately 3/8 inch of potting mix over the jacaranda seeds.
9. Water as often as needed in order to keep the potting mix moist, but avoid watering so often the seeds become drenched. Germination of jacaranda seeds can begin in 10 to 12 days, according to World AgroForestry. You can transplant the jacaranda saplings about 8 to 10 months after germination.
Tags: 1-gallon pots, jacaranda seeds, jacaranda tree, about inch, inch from