Jacaranda from seed December 2018

[SWfloirda]

I lived in Brazil for a while and saw many a Jacaranda tree. They sure are beautiful and I do know that some have been made into bonsai, albeit very large bonsai. If I were you I would just keep growing out that tree, trying to get as big and interesting of a trunk as possible to offset the large leaves. Maybe in 15-20 years you can have a good base to start working towards leaf reduction and ramification.

One concerning thing is that many sources I have read seem to say that Jacaranda does not like to flower when constrained in a bonsai pot.

View attachment 413044

I took this photo from a forum in Spanish. According to the poster, it is a true Jacaranda bonsai, not a Brazilian Rain Tree. The poster lives in Mexico and says that it has never flowered, despite being quite old.

View attachment 413045

From the same thread, proof that Jacaranda can flower in pots.

To be frank, I would grow Jacaranda to enjoy its form, beautiful bark and leaves rather than its flowers, much like a Crepe Myrtle bonsai.

Fortunately, when given the right conditions these trees are absolute monsters. They backbud like crazy and get beautiful bark when old.

Hopefully I was able to give you some useful imput.

i don’t think the second picture is jacaranda.

 

[Underdog]

I've one growing in Sarasota at my sisters place. It's just now 2yrs from seed and was also a gift bonsai kit from my daughter. I'll be there next week. I've got one each Black Spruce and Bristelcone pine up here which are still tiny for 3yr olds from the same kit.

Like you it's because they were gifts from my daughter.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

They are very frustrating as bonsai, even Flamboyants are better in my opinion

 

[SWfloirda]

I've one growing in Sarasota at my sisters place. It's just now 2yrs from seed and was also a gift bonsai kit from my daughter. I'll be there next week. I've got one each Black Spruce and Bristelcone pine up here which are still tiny for 3yr olds from the same kit.

Like you it's because they were gifts from my daughter.

The jacaranda is the sole survivor. I don’t think the spruce or pine seedlings ever stood a chance in the heat down here. The ficus seeds never germinated.

 

[SWfloirda]

They are very frustrating as bonsai, even Flamboyants are better in my opinion

I got 5 seeds going from July. Along with two river tamarind. I’m having no luck with pride of Barbados seeds.

 

[KleinM]

The trick is to let them grow wild and DON'T wire them. Keep pruning to a minimum. I'd say that the only style that works for them is Literati. Here is a photo of mine:
And here is a photo that I took last week of a Jacaranda from a bonsai nursery here in South Africa (the date on it says 1985)

 

[SWfloirda]

The trick is to let them grow wild and DON'T wire them. Keep pruning to a minimum. I'd say that the only style that works for them is Literati. Here is a photo of mine: View attachment 413088
And here is a photo that I took last week of a Jacaranda from a bonsai nursery here in South Africa (the date on it says 1985) View attachment 413089

Here is mine today. It has been chopped and pruned, many, many times. I don't want it to be much taller than it is now.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I have to admit that they have something good.. they sprout from old wood and take very hard prunings. Look at this one was brutally choped down and sprouted without problem... Maybe a yamadori in the future?

 

[SWfloirda]

I have to admit that they have something good.. they sprout from old wood and take very hard prunings. Look at this one was brutally choped down and sprouted without problem... Maybe a yamadori in the future?
View attachment 413355

The one I planted in the yard is about 7 foot tall and leggy as can be. I may chop and dig it up this year and replace it with one of the flamboyant trees.

 

[SWfloirda]

I decided to dig the one I planted in the yard up. It’s on its way to recovery.

Jacaranda tree from seed. 3 years 3 months old. Jacaranda mimosifolia

 

[SWfloirda]

This one had a surprisingly slow recovery, finally feel safe moving it to full sun today.

 

[SWfloirda]

This one was looking good today too.

 

[SWfloirda]

Updates for both.

 

[SWfloirda]

I was planning to chop both of these with some growing season left anyhow but decided to do it now before the possible storm. We got some wind and rain but it looks like it won't be too bad. I hope everyone up north stays safe.
here. I