We have two huge purple flowering trees on the main entrance street of the park. I have been trying like crazy to find out what kind of trees they are. Googling “purple flowering trees of south Texas” got me nowhere. (click on pictures for more info)
The purple flower sort of resemble a Texas Mountain Laurel, but the leaves look like Mimosa trees.
Today, Connie, our church board chairman, invited me to Feature Day at the Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen. As we were driving out of the park, she said, “See those two beautiful trees with purple flowers?”
“Yes!!”
Connie explained, “Years ago, I brought some seed pods back from Australia and we planted them here and they have thrived!!” 
They are Jacaranda trees!
To be more exact: Jacaranda mimosifolia.
I’m going to retrieve some of the seed pods and send them to our good friend and cactus gardener at Sunscape, Toma!
4 comments:
I love those trees. My son in law wanted to plant them here but they will only live in warm climates. Any temps near freezing will kill them. If you are ever flying into San Diego in the springtime you will see clouds of purple below you and they are the jacaranda trees. A tree that does OK in colder climates and looks much the same is a Purple Robe Locust Tree. It is brittle and winds will break them up. Rich had two beautiful ones in the back yard and they were snapped off about 3 feet above the ground. Love Ya, Sharon
You could always bring some back to Arizona, Plant them and personally stay a season to water them and make sure that they get a good start....hint, hint!
Sharonforcito
Sharon,
We had freezing temps and an ice storm here this winter and the Jacaranda trees made it. Not as much foliage as usual this spring, but the blooms are thick.
Beautiful trees!!
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