Jacaranda is at least a zone 9 plant isn't it? Possibly zone 10.

Best bet is to keep in pot and bring it indoors when nights get down into the low 40s or so.

You'd have to build a heated greenhouse around it if you planted it in the ground.

You could probably help it through this first winter when it is small, but what will you do when it is 10 feet? 20 feet?

consider bonsai'ing it ...

you can probably do it.. for a year or two ... but eventually .... it will outgrow your ability to protect it ...

i would look to winter soil temps as the key.. whether you will have any luck it the long run ...

as my soil freezes ... that says it all.. as to whether i could do it ...

ken

I have a large box that is filled around the sides with foam insulation. I plan to put that on top of the plant when temps get down to freezing.

I know people that wrap their tender fig trees in christmas decoration lights for warmt and bubble wrap plastic for insulation. It does work, but is quite tiresome.

Passive protection will not cut it with Jacaranda. It will need supplemental heat with a thermostat.

If it were a zone 8 or 8B plant you might get away with it.

This post was edited by dave_in_nova on Wed, Sep 3, 14 at 14:04

The only solution is you plant it in zone 9 or zone 10. Start packing, I guess.

I have a large box that is filled around the sides with foam insulation. I plan to put that on top of the plant when temps get down to freezing.

==>>> that addresses air temps .. it does not address soil temps ..

it doesnt matter if you protect leaves ... if the roots die ...

many newer xmas lights do not generate heat.. like they used to ...

bonsai ... indoors until it gets to big as a houseplant ...

might want to ask the same question in the houseplant forum.. see if anyone there has dabbled with this plant ...

ken

Some zn 10 plants like Plumeria are considered amenable to container culture; Jacaranda is definitely not one of them.

Some friends from CA grew Jacaranda in a container for many years in Maryland. When it got too large, they just cut it back. Not ideal; and it never bloomed, but no doubt it can be done. It also dropped a ton of leaves upon bringing it indoors each Fall.

A large unheated box with foam insulation will not address the cold air temperature problem once December comes around.

Checkout what ArcticTropical has done in z3/4 with just boxes and lights... It's Unbelievable. If he can do that with multiple '15ft palms, I'm sure you could do it for this one tree...if you had the time and energy

Here is a link that might be useful: Inside Pics of palm boxes for winter protection

"and it never bloomed, but no doubt it can be done. "

Right, well, never blooming would be a deal killer for most people!

In the original post all they were concerned about was that it 'makes it through the winter'.

He/she didn't ask if it would ever bloom.