White Jacaranda Tree

The White Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia 'Alba') is the white flowered form of the tree that colours half the country's streets each spring. It builds to around 10m tall with an 8m canopy, carrying the same ferny foliage and mass flowering, but in soft creamy white rather than mauve. It is fast growing and drought tolerant once established, an efficient way to get real shade over a lawn.

Why you'll love it

• White where everyone else has mauve. The flowering is just as heavy, and the pale trumpets sit well against dark foliage or red brick.
• Dappled shade, not a black hole. The fine ferny leaves filter light, so lawn and understorey planting keep growing underneath.
• Fast to canopy. It gains height quickly in a warm garden, so usable shade arrives in years rather than decades.
• Tough once away. Drought and heat tolerant, which suits inland and Mediterranean gardens as well as the humid east coast.
• Bees and butterflies. The flowering is a genuine nectar event.

Where it works best

Shade over a lawn or entertaining area. This is the tree's best use. Allow the full 8m of canopy width and keep it that far from the house.

Driveways and avenues. Matched rows spaced 8m to 10m apart give the classic effect. Closer spacing produces drawn up trees that never develop the head the tree is grown for.

Be honest about the drop. Flowers, leaves and seed pods come down across the year, and the surface roots are vigorous. Site it away from pools, gutters, paving and pipes.

Growing White Jacaranda in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in an open position with room overhead. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, taking in Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. It tolerates light frost only, so young trees inland and in the tablelands need protection for their first few winters, and cold mountain gardens are the wrong home for it.

Soil. Free draining is the requirement. It resents heavy wet clay, so on those soils plant on a raised mound with compost worked through. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed lightly in early spring. Heavy nitrogen produces soft leafy growth and delays flowering.

Pruning. Keep it minimal. Shape the young tree by selecting a clear leader and removing crossing branches, then leave it alone. Heavy cuts on a mature tree produce a thicket of water shoots and spoil the canopy.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in eight sizes. The 140mm, 200mm and 250mm multi packs are the economical route for an avenue or a large planting, and because the tree grows fast they catch up quickly. The 300mm and 400mm pots are the standard single tree choice, while the 45L, 100L and 200L sizes arrive as formed trees with a clear trunk and height already made.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. A tree that arrives bare in late winter is normal, because jacarandas drop their foliage briefly before the spring flush. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Jacaranda planting and care in Australia
• Browse more flowering trees
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Trees suited to avenue and driveway planting

Common questions

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 8m, which matches the mature canopy width, and further again from pools, paving and drainage lines. The surface roots are vigorous and will lift pavers given the chance.

How long until it flowers?

Usually three to five years from planting for an advanced tree, and longer for small pot sizes. Full sun, restrained feeding and a settled root system bring it forward.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Hobart?

Melbourne is workable in a frost free coastal suburb with a warm sheltered position, though flowering is less reliable than further north. Hobart and cold inland districts are too frosty.