Newsletter Articles
The Jacaranda Tree and Other Year-Round SoCal Trees
Written by Susan B.
Three trees stand out for giving Southern California gardens interest in every season: the jacaranda, with its famous purple spring bloom; the strawberry tree, an evergreen that carries flowers, fruit, and colorful bark at once; and the orchid tree, prized for its orchid-like late-winter flowers. Of the three, the strawberry tree is the true year-round performer, while the jacaranda and orchid tree are high-impact seasonal accents.
Quick answer: For year-round interest in SoCal, the strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’) is the best all-rounder: it is evergreen and shows flowers, red fruit, and peeling bark together. The jacaranda is a fast-growing shade tree with a spectacular purple bloom in late spring but goes briefly bare and drops a lot of litter. The orchid tree blooms orchid-like pink flowers in late winter but self-seeds and is better replaced by the sterile Hong Kong orchid tree if you want a tidy, non-seeding option. Jacarandas are commonly cited as living around 50 years and often longer; strawberry trees are long-lived.
| Tree | Typical lifespan | Mature size | Evergreen? | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacaranda | About 50 years, often longer | 25 to 40 ft tall, broad canopy | No (briefly bare) | Purple, late spring to summer |
| Strawberry tree | Long-lived | 25 to 35 ft tall | Yes | White to pink, fall to winter |
| Orchid tree | Varies | About 25 to 35 ft tall | Semi-evergreen | Pink to purple, late winter to spring |
Lifespan figures for ornamental trees are general estimates; a tree’s actual longevity depends heavily on climate, soil, and care.
Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
The jacaranda is the signature flowering tree of Southern California, famous for the haze of lavender-purple blooms it puts on in late spring and early summer.[1] It is a fast-growing shade tree that reaches about 25 to 40 feet tall with a broad, spreading canopy that is often as wide as the tree is tall, so give it room.[1] Jacarandas are long-lived; in cultivation they are commonly cited as living around 50 years, and a healthy, well-sited tree can live considerably longer. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil; once established it is moderately drought tolerant.[2] One honest caveat: the jacaranda is deciduous to semi-evergreen, so it goes briefly bare, and it sheds something nearly year-round, dropping leaflets, spent flowers, and woody seed pods, which makes it a poor choice right beside a pool or patio.[2] Because the canopy and roots both spread, think about placement; see our guide to choosing trees that will not disturb your underground plumbing.
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’)
If you want one tree that looks good in every season, the strawberry tree is the pick. It is evergreen, holding glossy dark-green leaves all year, and it layers on several features at once: clusters of white-to-pink, urn-shaped flowers, round red fruit, and attractive red-brown bark that peels in strips.[3] ‘Marina’ is a hybrid cultivar that grows to roughly 25 to 35 feet and often flowers and fruits at the same time in fall and winter.[4] It likes full sun and well-drained soil and is genuinely drought tolerant once established, needing little to no summer water, which makes it a great water-wise choice; see our guide to drought-tolerant plants.[4] The round red fruit is edible but bland and a little gritty, though it does make a decent jelly.[3] The parent species, Arbutus unedo, is long-lived, so a strawberry tree is a long-term investment in your landscape.
Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata)
The orchid tree earns its name with showy, orchid-like flowers in pink to pale purple that open in late winter and spring, often as the tree drops or re-leafs.[5] It is a fast-growing, semi-evergreen tree of about 25 to 35 feet that wants full sun and well-drained soil and is hardy in the milder parts of Southern California.[5] One important honesty note: Bauhinia variegata sets a heavy crop of seed pods and has become invasive in wetter climates such as Florida and Hawaii, where it is rated a high weed risk.[6] It is not listed as invasive in California, but it does self-seed and drop a lot of litter, so if you want the orchid-tree look without the mess and seeding, ask us about the sterile Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana), which does not set seed. For more flowering-tree ideas, see our flowering trees.
What Gives a Tree Year-Round Interest?
A tree offers year-round interest when it stacks several features across the seasons: evergreen foliage, flowers in more than one season, ornamental bark, and persistent fruit. By that measure the strawberry tree wins outright, carrying foliage, flowers, fruit, and bark together. The jacaranda and orchid tree are flower-forward seasonal accents that go briefly bare, so they shine brightest when paired with evergreens. For more trees suited to our climate, see our guide to native Southern California trees.
Ready to plant a standout tree? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location and our team will help you pick the right year-round tree for your space, soil, and water goals.
SoCal Trees FAQ
How long do jacaranda trees live?
Jacarandas are long-lived landscape trees. In cultivation they are commonly cited as living around 50 years, and a healthy, well-sited jacaranda can live considerably longer. Actual lifespan varies widely with climate, soil, and care.
How big do jacaranda trees get?
A mature jacaranda reaches about 25 to 40 feet tall with a broad, spreading canopy that is often as wide as the tree is tall, so plant it with plenty of room away from structures.[1]
When do jacaranda trees bloom?
Jacarandas bloom in a wave of lavender-purple flowers in late spring into early summer, typically peaking around May and June in Southern California.[1]
How long do strawberry trees live?
Strawberry trees are long-lived; the parent species, Arbutus unedo, can live many decades. ‘Marina’ is a newer hybrid cultivar, so treat it as a long-term, slow-and-steady addition to the landscape rather than a short-lived tree.[3]
Are these trees messy or invasive?
The jacaranda is not invasive in California but is a heavy litter-dropper, so keep it away from pools and patios. The orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) self-seeds and is invasive in wetter climates, though not listed as invasive in California; the sterile Hong Kong orchid tree is a tidier alternative. The evergreen strawberry tree is the cleanest of the three.[6]
Sources
- [1] University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions, Jacaranda: gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- [2] San Marcos Growers, Jacaranda mimosifolia: smgrowers.com
- [3] Oregon State University, Landscape Plants: Arbutus unedo: landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu
- [4] Sacramento Tree Foundation, Strawberry Tree: sactree.org
- [5] Oregon State University, Landscape Plants: Bauhinia variegata: landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu
- [6] Hawaii Plant Pono (HPWRA), Bauhinia variegata weed risk: plantpono.org
Sign up for the Green Thumb Nursery newsletter for seasonal Southern California gardening tips.