Jackarandas grow here like weeds and are a beautiful addition to our fair state (at least the southern part). In Southern CA, it is pronounced "jack-a (short a as in father)-RAN-da (same short a) J. mimosifolia is apparently the most commonly grown and is native to the drier tropical and sub tropical areas of South America. J. cuspidifolia is native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. I have a reference book here that says Pretoria, South Africa, is known as jackaranda city...there being so many of them there. Cathy Craig President PBS Maritime zone 9b > I have a question on pronunciation somewhat related to this > discussion, but it's the name of a tree under which some > bulbs grow.=A0 Jacaranda. Cathy Craig President PBS Maritime zone 9b