Jacaranda losing leaves

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AndrewAustralia
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Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by AndrewAustralia »

Hi All,

Sorry if this is the wrong sub forum.

Just curious, my Jacaranda has recently been repotted and went through a bit of a rough time. The pot fell over and he practically came out a couple of times. Thankfully some wire held him in... Just!


The last few days the leaves starting falling off quickly, more the bottom branches if anything, the top seems fine.


Is it normal to lose leaves like this? This tree is around a year old, I grew it from seed so I haven't gone through a winter when it's been a reasonable size.

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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by Jake fowler »

That is pretty normal. I grew some from seed and this happened. The extent of some was worse than others but they all had leaves come off followed by the lower branches coming off too
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by Matt S »

Jacarandas are deciduous so it’s pretty normal to have the leaves falling off now. In my street they are usually bare by the end of July.
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by kcpoole »

Normal for Jacarandah to go deciduous from this time of year. Mine here in Sydney will hang on for another month, but has turned a nice golden colour :-)
here is the progression thread for it. viewtopic.php?f=129&t=5621

Note to self, get updated pics and post :-)

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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by AndrewAustralia »

Hi All,.
Well it's still losing its leaves, mostly on the bottom. The top looks okay.

Even the branches on the lower part of the tree are coming off. Is that normal?

I feel as if it is dying, yet it was so so healthy and should still be....
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by shibui »

You haven't shared a photo yet Andrew.
It is normal for jacaranda to lose leaves in winter.
Now you say the branches are also dropping but that would be highly unusual. Jacaranda have pinnate or bipinnate leaves so what appears to you as a branch may really be the mid rib of the leaf.
A picture would certainly help to clear up any confusion.
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by AndrewAustralia »

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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by shibui »

As I expected. The leaves are bipinnate. You should look that up to see what it means. The little leaflets are not leaves. Those leaflets are attached to secondary leaf veins. The secondary leaf veins are attached to the main leaf vein and the main leaf vein is attached to the tree. When the leaf dies the entire leaf drops off as it is in your tree.
In actual fact, your tree has no branches. It is so young it only has leaves growing straight from the main trunk (or did have until they started to drop off)
You will need to provide protection from real cold through winter as temps near 0C could kill the trunk as well.
Your tree should sprout again in spring and will probably start to grow some real branches next year or in following years.

The really large bipinnate leaves are the reason jacaranda are not popular as bonsai. Those large, compound leaves make it a bit difficult to make a bonsai jacaranda look like a real tree.
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by MJL »

Hi Andrew,

It may provide you some comfort to note that the younger trees on the left of this group used to follow the pattern you are noting. I live in Victoria too - southern suburbs of Melbourne. My group is flourishing in a courtyard, under the dappled light of a Chinese Elm and in that position, protected from harsh winds and frosts.
IMG_0019.jpg
I am growing these for the foliage only. My understanding is that they will never flower as bonsai because I am always pinching new growth to keep the leaves small. I am persisting with it though as an experienced member of my bonsai club commented that such groups of trees such a jacaranda are not common. They seem to love my pinching all through spring, summer and autumn.

Best of luck with yours, I am sure it will be fine and burst back in spring.

Cheers,

Mark
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Re: Jacaranda losing leaves

Post by melbrackstone »

I've got three, and only one has almost lost its leaflets.

The two green ones seem to have dropped more than the one that's copped the full brunt of our Brisbane winter :lol: :lol: :lol:

I've left the two larger ones to grow long and leggy to see if I get flowers, because up here they can flower when in a pot.

They are deciduous, and this is around the time they tend to lose their leaves, so unless that branch starts looking wrinkled and dry, I think your tree is fine.
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