Los Angeles is about three hundred and fifty miles to the southeast of Los Gatos. Relative to the number of different climates between here and there, the climates of the two specific locations are surprisingly similar. Nonetheless, they are not completely similar. Winter weather is somewhat milder within the Los Angeles region, with only minimal frost. Some coastal climates there lack frost. Also, spring weather there is a bit warmer than here.

Jacaranda mimosifolia perform spectacularly with such mild winter weather and warm spring weather. Without frost, or even with minimal frost, they can grow taller than thirty feet, and eventually grow broader than tall. After defoliating for the end of winter or beginning of spring, they bloom for late spring, immediately prior to refoliation. Their awesomely vivid blue bloom is almost as profuse as their subsequent foliage. No other tree of comparable size compares to their floral color or floral profusion. That is why jacaranda are so much more popular within the region of Los Angeles.

Here, occasional moderate frost inhibits comparable performance. Trees are generally smaller and more compact, with more globular form. Vigorous growth that develops after frost damage can be structurally deficient, but heavy with lush foliage. Bloom is more sporadic amongst such vigorously vegetative growth. Although very pretty by local standards, jacaranda is not quite as exquisite as it is within the region of Los Angeles.

Nonetheless, I am growing some. A colleague brought me a seed pod from which I extracted seed. Fortunately, only a few more than two dozens seedlings survived a late frost last winter. Otherwise, many more would eventually be in need of homes. A few will likely inhabit our landscapes. A neighbor wants a few. Any extra jacaranda trees can be shared with other neighbors, like so much other surplus.