Jacaranda Trees and Wildlife: Creating a Garden Ecosystem

While jacarandas are not native to Australia, they have become valuable contributors to urban and suburban ecosystems. The abundant nectar-rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators, the spreading canopy provides habitat for birds, and the tree's presence creates opportunities to develop a thriving garden ecosystem that benefits local wildlife.

Wildlife That Benefits from Jacarandas

Native Bees and Honeybees

Jacaranda flowers are a significant nectar source, and during the spring flowering season, trees buzz with bee activity. Both European honeybees and various native bee species visit jacaranda flowers enthusiastically. The tubular flower shape suits many native bee species, particularly blue-banded bees and teddy bear bees, which are excellent at accessing the nectar within.

For beekeepers, jacarandas contribute to the spring nectar flow, and jacaranda honey—light and delicately flavoured—is a prized specialty in regions where these trees are abundant.

Birds

Nectar-feeding birds, particularly honeyeaters, regularly visit flowering jacarandas. Rainbow lorikeets, noisy miners, and various honeyeater species are commonly seen feeding on the nectar. The flowers' tubular shape is well-suited to the brush-tipped tongues of nectar-feeding birds.

Beyond the flowering season, jacarandas provide nesting sites and shelter for a variety of birds. The spreading canopy offers protection from predators and weather, while the branch structure provides suitable sites for nest construction.

Butterflies and Moths

Various butterfly species visit jacaranda flowers for nectar. While jacarandas are not host plants for Australian butterfly larvae (that role belongs to native species), the abundant nectar provides energy for adult butterflies. Common visitors include wanderer butterflies, orchard swallowtails, and various smaller species.

Moths also visit jacaranda flowers, particularly at dusk and dawn. The flowers' pale colour makes them visible in low light, and their nectar production continues into the evening hours.

Other Insects

The jacaranda ecosystem extends beyond pollinators. Predatory insects like ladybugs and lacewings hunt pest species among the foliage. Spiders build webs in the branch structure, contributing to pest control. These beneficial insects are valuable allies in maintaining a healthy garden.

Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Your jacaranda can be the centrepiece of a garden designed to support local wildlife. By adding complementary plants and features, you create a more diverse and resilient ecosystem.

Layer Your Planting

Wildlife-friendly gardens include plants at multiple heights. Your jacaranda provides the upper canopy layer. Add medium-height shrubs like native banksias, grevilleas, and callistemons to create a middle layer. Ground covers and grasses complete the lower layer. This vertical diversity provides habitat and food sources for different species.

Plant for Continuous Flowering

Jacarandas flower for about 6 to 8 weeks in spring. To support wildlife year-round, add plants that flower in other seasons. Native grevilleas, banksias, and bottlebrushes flower at various times, ensuring a continuous nectar supply. This is particularly important for resident honeyeaters that remain in gardens throughout the year.

Provide Water

A water source dramatically increases wildlife activity in gardens. A bird bath, shallow dish, or small pond provides drinking and bathing water for birds and other wildlife. Place water sources within flight distance of the jacaranda so birds can retreat to the safety of its branches. Keep water fresh and clean to prevent mosquito breeding.

Create Habitat Features

Beyond plants, additional features enhance habitat value:

• Nest boxes: Provide homes for hollow-nesting birds that may find your jacaranda suitable for feeding but lack natural hollows for nesting.
• Rock piles: Create shelter for lizards and ground-dwelling insects that contribute to pest control.
• Log piles: Decomposing logs support insects, fungi, and the organisms that feed on them.
• Mulch: Organic mulch harbours insects that provide food for ground-foraging birds.

Wildlife-Friendly Maintenance

How you maintain your garden affects its wildlife value. Adopting wildlife-friendly practices maximises the benefits your jacaranda and surrounding plantings provide.

Minimise Chemical Use

Pesticides harm beneficial insects along with pests, disrupting the natural balance that keeps pest populations in check. Similarly, herbicides can affect the plants that wildlife depends on. Where pest control is necessary, use targeted methods rather than broad-spectrum treatments.

Leave Some Mess

Excessively tidy gardens offer less wildlife habitat. Fallen leaves provide habitat for insects that birds eat. Seed heads left on plants feed seed-eating birds. Some dead branches offer perches and nesting sites. Finding a balance between tidiness and habitat value benefits both wildlife and reduces maintenance effort.

Time Pruning Carefully

Avoid pruning during nesting season (generally spring through early summer) when birds may be raising young in your jacaranda. If pruning is necessary, check carefully for active nests before cutting. Winter pruning has the least impact on wildlife.

The Bigger Picture

Individual gardens connect to form corridors of habitat across urban areas. Your jacaranda and the ecosystem around it contribute to this larger network, providing stepping stones for wildlife moving through the urban landscape. By creating a wildlife-friendly garden, you help sustain populations that might otherwise struggle in built-up areas.

For more on caring for your jacaranda while supporting wildlife, see our care and maintenance guide.