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.
—- title: "Trees with purple flowers" slug: trees-with-purple-flowers hub: plants category: "Plant list" description: "The best trees with purple flowers for temperate North American gardens — with zones, bloom timing, mature size, and important notes on invasive risk." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 9 release_after: 2026-10-01 —-
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
Purple-flowered trees for warmer zones
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, jacaranda produces spectacular blue-purple flower clusters in spring and again in fall in zones 9b–11. The bloom is extraordinary: trees covered in violet-blue panicles with minimal foliage. Common in southern California, Florida, and Hawaii.
- Zones: 9b–11
- Mature size: 25–40 feet tall
- Flower color: Blue-violet (one of the truest blues in any tree)
- Sun: Full sun
- Limitation: Hard frost damages or kills young trees
Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas mountain laurel produces intensely fragrant purple flower clusters (grape Kool-Aid fragrance) in early spring. Native to Texas and New Mexico.
- Zones: 7–11
- Mature size: 15–25 feet
- Bloom time: March–April
- Fragrance: Exceptional; one of the most fragrant spring trees
Princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, princess flower is a tropical shrub/small tree (to 15 feet in frost-free zones) with large, brilliant purple flowers produced over a long season.
- Zones: 9–11
- Mature size: 5–15 feet
- Flower color: Rich purple; very large (3 inches)
Trees to avoid: invasive species
Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Per Penn State Extension, empress tree produces showy lavender-purple flower clusters in May before leaf-out. However, it is one of the most invasive trees in the eastern US — each tree produces 20 million seeds per year, which germinate readily on disturbed land, roadsides, and forest edges. It is listed as invasive in 25+ states.
Do not plant. The flower display does not compensate for the ecological impact.
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda)
Not trees but frequently grown on arbors and pergolas where they can reach tree scale. Both are invasive in most of the eastern US. Per NC State Extension, use native American wisteria (W. frutescens 'Amethyst Falls') or Kentucky wisteria (W. macrostachya 'Blue Moon') instead — both provide purple-blue flower clusters with far less invasive potential.
Purple-flowered trees by zone
| Tree | Zones | Height | Bloom Season | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cercis canadensis | 4–9 | 20–30 ft | April | Magenta-pink |
| Cercis canadensis var. texensis | 6–9 | 15–25 ft | April | Pink-purple |
| Vitex agnus-castus | 6–9 | 10–15 ft | June–Sept | Lavender-purple |
| Jacaranda mimosifolia | 9b–11 | 25–40 ft | Spring and fall | Blue-violet |
| Sophora secundiflora | 7–11 | 15–25 ft | March–April | Purple |
| Tibouchina urvilleana | 9–11 | 5–15 ft | Long season | Rich purple |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best purple-flowering tree for zones 4–6? Per NC State Extension, eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is the best choice for zones 4–6, offering purple-pink flowers, adaptability to a range of soils, good fall color, and native ecological value. 'Appalachian Red' has more saturated pink-red flowers than the typical species.
Can I grow jacaranda in zone 8? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, jacaranda may survive in the warmest parts of zone 8 (8b, where winter minimums rarely go below 15–20°F) with protection from hard frost, but it is not reliable. Root zone protection with heavy mulch and a sheltered location near a south-facing wall improves winter survival.
Is the purple leaf plum tree considered a purple-flowered tree? Purple leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Thundercloud', 'Atropurpurea') produces pink to white flowers and is grown primarily for its purple-red foliage, not its flowers. The flowers are small and brief. Per Clemson HGIC, it is best classified as a colored-foliage tree rather than a flowering tree.
What tree produces the most intense purple flower color? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, jacaranda (J. mimosifolia) produces the most intense and extensive purple-blue flower display of any temperate tree. Where zone 9+ conditions allow, it is unmatched.
Sources
- NC State Extension — Eastern Redbud
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Flowering Trees
- Clemson HGIC — Chaste Tree
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Purple-Flowering Trees
- Penn State Extension — Invasive Plants
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Texas Mountain Laurel and Redbud