What Trees Have Purple Blossoms – 11 Majestic Choices For Your Garden

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Tired of the same old green and white in your garden landscape? Imagine stepping outside to a breathtaking canopy of royal purple, lavender, and violet. It’s a complete game-changer.

Purple is the color of royalty, creativity, and magic. Planting a tree with purple blossoms can transform your yard from ordinary to enchanting, attracting happy pollinators and becoming a stunning focal point that will have your neighbors talking.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most beautiful options, from towering giants to delicate ornamentals, so you can find the perfect purple-flowering tree for your space. You’ll discover exactly how to plant and care for them to ensure a spectacular display year after year.

Ready to add a splash of majestic color to your world? Let’s dive into the wonderful world of what trees have purple blossoms.

Why Choose a Tree with Purple Blossoms? The Royal Treatment for Your Garden

Adding a purple-flowering tree to your landscape is more than just a color choice; it’s a design statement. There are so many benefits of what trees have purple blossoms that go beyond their stunning looks.

First, the visual impact is undeniable. Purple creates a sense of depth and luxury. It pairs beautifully with the lush greens of foliage, the bright yellows of daffodils, and the soft pinks of other spring flowers, making every color pop.

Second, these trees are a magnet for wildlife. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are highly attracted to shades of purple and violet. By planting one, you’re creating a vital food source for these crucial pollinators. This makes your garden a more vibrant, living ecosystem and is a cornerstone of eco-friendly what trees have purple blossoms practices.

Finally, there’s a purple-blossoming tree for almost every garden size and style, from sprawling suburban yards to compact urban patios. They can serve as a majestic shade tree, a privacy screen, or a spectacular standalone specimen.

Our Top Picks: A Gardener’s Guide to Trees with Purple Blossoms

So, you’re ready to add some purple power to your yard. But which one to choose? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. This what trees have purple blossoms guide breaks down our top 11 favorites, perfect for a range of climates and spaces.

1. Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

Best For: Breathtaking, dreamy canopies in warm climates.
USDA Zones: 9b-11
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 25-40 feet tall and wide

The Jacaranda is the undisputed queen of purple-flowering trees. In late spring, it covers itself in dense clusters of lavender-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers, creating a magical scene when the blossoms carpet the ground below. It’s a fast-grower that loves the heat.

2. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Best For: Long-lasting summer color and beautiful bark.
USDA Zones: 6-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: Varies greatly by cultivar, from 5 to 30 feet tall

A true Southern belle, the Crape Myrtle offers huge, crinkly panicles of flowers all summer long. Cultivars like ‘Catawba’, ‘Zuni’, and ‘Purple Magic’ offer stunning shades of deep purple and lavender. They are wonderfully low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established.

3. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Best For: Early spring color and native appeal.
USDA Zones: 4-9
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Mature Size: 20-30 feet tall, 25-35 feet wide

Before most trees have even leafed out, the Eastern Redbud bursts to life with tiny, purplish-pink blossoms that hug its bare branches. It’s a gorgeous North American native that supports early-season pollinators. Its heart-shaped leaves are lovely, too!

4. Royal Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

Best For: Incredibly fast growth (with a major warning).
USDA Zones: 5-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 30-50 feet tall and wide

This tree grows at an astonishing rate and produces large, fragrant, lilac-like flowers. However, it is highly invasive in many parts of the U.S. It can reseed aggressively and outcompete native plants. We include it here because it’s frequently asked about, but we strongly advise choosing a native or non-invasive alternative for sustainable what trees have purple blossoms gardening.

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5. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

Best For: Late-summer blooms and attracting butterflies.
USDA Zones: 6-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 10-20 feet tall and wide (can be kept smaller)

Often grown as a large shrub or a small multi-trunked tree, the Chaste Tree is a lifesaver for the late-summer garden. It produces impressive spikes of violet-blue flowers that butterflies adore. It’s wonderfully heat and drought-tolerant.

6. Purple Robe Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’)

Best For: Fragrant, wisteria-like flowers and fast growth.
USDA Zones: 4-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 30-40 feet tall, 20-30 feet wide

If you love the look of Wisteria but want it in a more manageable tree form, this is your answer. In spring, it’s draped in stunning, deep pinkish-purple flower clusters with an intoxicating fragrance. It’s also very tolerant of poor, dry soils.

7. Purple Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata)

Best For: Unique, orchid-like flowers in tropical regions.
USDA Zones: 9-11
Sunlight: Full sun to light shade
Mature Size: 20-35 feet tall and wide

This tropical beauty produces large, fragrant flowers that look remarkably like orchids. The blooms appear from late winter to early spring, providing a spectacular show when many other plants are dormant. The unique, twin-lobed leaves are also a highlight.

8. Tree Lilac (Syringa cultivars)

Best For: Classic lilac fragrance on a larger scale.
USDA Zones: 3-7
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 15-25 feet tall

While most lilacs are shrubs, several can be pruned into a lovely small tree form. Common lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) grafted onto a standard rootstock create a classic “lollipop” tree shape with those iconic purple, fragrant blooms. Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners!

9. Royal Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)

Best For: Season-long color from both foliage and flowers.
USDA Zones: 4-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 10-15 feet tall and wide

This one is a double-whammy. It has deep, wine-purple foliage all season long. In early summer, it produces large, airy flower plumes that look like puffs of pinkish-purple smoke, creating a truly ethereal effect in the garden.

10. ‘Jane’ Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Jane’)

Best For: Large, elegant flowers in early spring.
USDA Zones: 4-8
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Mature Size: 10-15 feet tall

Part of the “Little Girl” series of hybrid magnolias, ‘Jane’ is a spectacular small tree. It produces large, tulip-shaped flowers that are a gorgeous reddish-purple on the outside and creamy white within. It blooms a bit later than other magnolias, often avoiding late frosts.

11. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

Best For: Drought-tolerant and arid gardens.
USDA Zones: 7-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Size: 15-30 feet tall and wide

Not a true willow, this tough native of the American Southwest is perfect for water-wise landscapes. From late spring through fall, it produces exotic, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of lavender and burgundy. It has a graceful, airy structure that provides light, filtered shade.

Planting and Care Guide: Best Practices for Purple-Blossoming Trees

You’ve picked your favorite tree—congratulations! Now comes the fun part. Following this simple what trees have purple blossoms care guide will set your new tree up for a long, healthy, and beautiful life.

Choosing the Right Spot

This is the most important step! Most flowering trees, especially these purple beauties, need full sun—that means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Good soil drainage is also critical. Avoid low-lying areas where water puddles. Finally, look up! Consider the tree’s mature size and make sure it won’t interfere with power lines or your house.

The Planting Process, Step-by-Step

  1. Dig the Hole: Dig a hole that is two to three times as wide as the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. Planting too deep is a common mistake!
  2. Check the Roots: Gently loosen any circling roots at the bottom of the pot to encourage them to grow outward.
  3. Position the Tree: Place the tree in the center of the hole. The spot where the trunk flares out to meet the roots should be level with or slightly above the surrounding ground.
  4. Backfill: Fill the hole back in with the native soil you removed. There’s usually no need to add lots of amendments directly into the planting hole.
  5. Water Deeply: Water the tree thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Give it a good, long drink.

Watering, Feeding, and Mulching

For the first year, water your new tree deeply once or twice a week, especially during dry spells. Once established, most of these trees are quite drought-tolerant. A 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (like wood chips or compost) around the base is a fantastic idea. It conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and enriches the soil. Just be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself.

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Common Problems with What Trees Have Purple Blossoms (and How to Solve Them!)

Even the best gardeners run into issues. Here’s a look at some common problems with what trees have purple blossoms and some simple, friendly advice on how to fix them.

Problem: My Tree Isn’t Blooming!

This is so frustrating! Here are a few possible culprits:

  • It’s too young: Some trees need a few years to mature before they start flowering. Be patient!
  • Not enough sun: A lack of direct sunlight is the #1 reason for poor flowering.
  • Improper pruning: If you pruned at the wrong time of year, you might have accidentally cut off the developing flower buds.
  • Too much nitrogen: High-nitrogen lawn fertilizers can encourage lots of leafy green growth at the expense of flowers.

Problem: Pests and Diseases

The best defense is a healthy tree. Proper watering and sunlight go a long way. Some trees, like Crape Myrtles, can be prone to powdery mildew. Ensure good air circulation and choose resistant varieties. If you see pests like aphids, a strong blast of water from the hose or an application of insecticidal soap is often all you need for sustainable pest management.

Problem: Leaf Discoloration or Drop

Yellowing leaves often point to a watering issue—either too much or too little. Check the soil moisture about 4-6 inches down. If it’s soggy, back off on watering. If it’s bone dry, give it a deep soak. Unexpected leaf drop can also be a sign of stress from transplanting or a sudden heatwave.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trees with Purple Blossoms

What is the fastest-growing tree with purple flowers?

The Royal Empress Tree (Paulownia) is by far the fastest, but as we mentioned, it’s highly invasive in many areas and not recommended. A much better choice for fast growth is the Purple Robe Locust, which can grow 2-3 feet per year and has gorgeous, fragrant flowers.

Are there any small purple-flowering trees for patios or small yards?

Absolutely! The Chaste Tree is a fantastic option that can be kept small. Many cultivars of Crape Myrtle are bred to be dwarf or semi-dwarf, staying under 10 feet. And a ‘Jane’ Magnolia is a perfect small specimen tree for a compact garden.

When do most purple-blossoming trees bloom?

It varies, which is great for planning a long season of color! Eastern Redbuds and Magnolias are some of the first to bloom in early spring. They are followed by Jacarandas, Lilacs, and Locusts in late spring. Crape Myrtles and the Chaste Tree take over for a spectacular summer show.

Your Majestic Purple Garden Awaits

From the delicate early blossoms of the Redbud to the summer-long spectacle of the Crape Myrtle, there is a perfect purple-flowering tree waiting to grace your garden. Choosing a tree is a gift to your future self—a commitment to shade, beauty, and a healthier ecosystem.

We hope this guide has inspired you and given you the confidence to get planting. By understanding what trees have purple blossoms and how to care for them, you’re well on your way to creating the garden of your dreams.

Now, go pick your favorite and start digging. Your garden (and the local bees) will thank you for it. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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