50 Common Trees in Hong Kong Volume 2
Name in Chinese
Jacaranda mimosifolia
藍楹
Common Name
Jacaranda
Introduction
Jacaranda mimosifolia is a deciduous tree
from Brazil. It prefers sunny and sheltered
Scientific Name
position.
Apart
from
Lagerstroemia
speciosa, there are not many trees with
blue or purple flowers, except Jacaranda
mimosifolia. During flowering period, bluish
purple flowers in long racemes create a
magnificent scene. Thus it is planted for
ornamental purposes. It is seldom seen in
country parks, but can be found in Shatin
Park, Tung Tsz Nursery in Tai Po and the
main dam in Shing Mun Reservoir.
Special Features
Jacaranda mimosifolia looks like Delonix
regia with bluish purple flowers hanging in
long racemes in early summer. Flowers
borne in terminal and axillary racemes at the
branch ends. Flowering period lasts for over
a month. Flowers grow and fall off
simultaneously, decorating the ground with
bluish purple. Bipinnately divided compound
leaves possess 16 or more pairs of pinnae.
Each pinnae has 14 to 24 pairs of oblong
leaflets. Leaf apex is acute with base tapers
to a hair point with entire margin.
To Learn More
The wood is used for carving.
1
Characteristics
Whole Family
Plant Height
Bignoniaceae
Up to 15 metres
Nature
of Leaf
Deciduous tree
Others
Round or spreading crown
Photo
Shatin Park
Branch

Trunk and branches bent, with many branches.
Bark

Bark slightly rough.
Leaf

Leaves opposite, bipinnately divided compound,
with 16 or more pairs of pinnae; each pinnae
having 14 to 24 pairs of oblong leaflets.
Leaflets oblong, about 1 cm long.
Leaf apex acute, base tapers to a hair point,


margin entire.
Flower



Fruit
Flowers bisexual, irregular, flowering in late spring
to early summer.
Flowers bluish purple, numerous, cluster in
terminal panicles.
Corolla tubular, long and curly, swollen at the top,
five-lobed, 2 lobes shorter.

Flattened capsule, about 5 cm across.

Opens to release numerous winged seeds when
ripe.
2