Black poui (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

Features and Characteristics

Jacaranda mimosifolia, commonly called jacaranda, is native to Argentina and Bolivia. It is a deciduous tree that grows 25-50’ tall in its native habitat. In tropical and subtropical climates, it puts on a spectacular flowering display in spring to summer wherein blue-purple flowers cover the tree with bloom, forming pools of blue on the ground as they fall. Flowers (to 2” long) appear in 12-inch terminal panicles in spring and early summer. Flowers give way to flattened 2-inch capsules, each containing numerous winged seeds. In St. Louis, jacaranda may only be grown in containers. Container plants often do not bloom, so in areas such as St. Louis, it is grown primarily as a foliage plant. Features large bipinnate compound fern-like leaves (to 18” long) with tiny 1/2-inch leaflets. Sometimes commonly called fern tree. Synonymous with Jacaranda acutifolia.

Genus name comes from the Latinized Brazilian name.

Specific epithet means with leaves that resemble those of mimosa.