It seems happiest in a sandy, loam-based compost and a good mixture is 4 parts John Innes No2 to one part horticultural sand or grit. This will provide the free-draining conditions that the plant relishes. Soil-less mixes break down too easily over time and create air-less stagnant conditions within the pot. They are fine for bedding or temporary plants, but useless for most containerised perennial and woody plants.

Young Jacarandas can be repotted every spring until they are in their final, 12 - 14" diameter containers. They can of course be kept smaller by not repotting so frequently, but growth rates will slow down and flowering could be delayed. When all danger of frost has passed, Jacandas should be gradually hardened-off and moved outside to a sunny, wind-sheltered spot for the summer. There they will thrive and grow rapidly. Young plants will benefit from applications of a general purpose liquid feed every 2 - 3 weeks in summer up to the end of August. Older specimens do best if given a tomato fertiliser every 3 weeks. If you prefer bushy plants, you can pinch out the shoot tips when they are about 8 - 12" high to promote branching. Otherwise, let the shoot grow up to develop a short trunk and then pinch out at around 4 or 5 feet.

Depending upon where you live, you will need to bring your plants in during late September/ October to avoid the first frosts. Older plants can be left out longer and in fact colder nights will help by inducing partial winter dormancy. That said, don't run the risk of exposing them to a sharp frost - young plants especially are are very susceptible and can be severely damaged of killed. Jacandas are naturally semi-deciduous, losing most of their leaves when temperatures start to drop in autumn. During winter, keep the plants just frost-free in a greenhouse, porch or conservatory. Although they may not be actively growing, make sure that the compost does not dry out too much. The aim is to keep it very lightly moist. Keeping plants too warm in winter will encourage them to continue growing, which because of our very poor winter light intensity, should be discouraged. Any growth produced will be thin, weak and prone to disease.

In early spring when new growth commences (usually during Feb-March), pot on in the mixture described above and gradually resume normal watering. Plants that are not being repotted need the top inch or so of compost replaced with fresh at this time. Commence feeding in late April for those plants that have not been potted-on and early June for those that have.

Make sure that the Jacaranda is kept in full sun at all times and after approximately 5-6 years, you could enjoy the first flowers.

NB. Jacaranda is planted as a street tree in many towns fringing the Mediterranean. It is not uncommon as inferred and develops considerable cold tolerance as it matures. Growing in the drier plains of southern Brazil, Argentina and even Paraguay, it can cope with light to moderate, short-lived frosts. Jacanda can be grown against sunny, south facing walls in the far south of England, but only where soil conditions are very free-draining to prevent the roots becoming waterlogged in winter.