Trees with purple flowers
Purple-flowered trees are a small but diverse group spanning from shrubby natives to large landscape specimens. The most famous -- wisteria (technically a vine) and empress tree (*Paulownia tomentosa*) -- come with significant caveats about invasiveness and vigor. Others, like native redbud, are.
Purple-flowered trees are a small but diverse group spanning from shrubby natives to large landscape specimens. The most famous — wisteria (technically a vine) and empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) — come with significant caveats about invasiveness and vigor. Others, like native redbud, are genuinely excellent landscape plants.
This guide covers trees with purple, violet, and purple-pink flowers, with honest assessments of invasive potential and maintenance requirements.
Native trees with purple or purple-pink flowers
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Per NC State Extension, eastern redbud is native to most of the eastern US and one of the best small landscape trees available. Purple-pink flowers emerge directly from the branches (cauliflorous) before leaves in April.
- Zones: 4–9
- Mature size: 20–30 feet tall; 25–35 feet wide
- Flower color: Magenta-pink to purple-pink
- Bloom time: April (before leaves)
- Soil: Adaptable; prefers well-drained
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Wildlife value: Native bees collect pollen extensively
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, redbud 'Forest Pansy' has deep purple foliage through summer, adding ornamental value beyond the brief bloom period. 'Merlot' and 'The Rising Sun' are other notable cultivars with colored foliage.
Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)
A western variant of eastern redbud with glossier, thicker leaves and better drought tolerance. Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, it is more heat-tolerant than the eastern species and performs well in zones 6–9 with less supplemental water.
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Per Clemson HGIC, chaste tree is a multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree (to 15 feet) producing lavender-blue to purple flower spikes in summer. It is one of the few trees (or large shrubs) with summer bloom.
- Zones: 6–9
- Mature size: 10–15 feet tall; 15–20 feet wide
- Flower color: Lavender-blue to purple
- Bloom time: June–September
- Sun: Full sun only