Purple flowering tree are the trees that add color and vibrancy to a landscape just on their own. The luscious deep tones of the flowers seamlessly complement the natural surroundings like grass.
If you were considering adding a purple flower tree to your collection, our list has some of the best five. You can judge them by their growth rate and care guide to see the best pick for you.
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List of Trees that Have Purple Flowers
1. Jacaranda
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The jacaranda tree is also known as the Jacaranda mimosifolia, and it is a lovely tropical tree with clusters of scented purple blossoms in panicles. Arched jacaranda branches create a canopy that resembles an open umbrella.
The jacaranda’s fern-like leaves, which can reach a length of 20 inches, make it a great shade, or can be used as a street tree. In a tropical setting, a tree overgrows, acquiring roughly 10 feet each year during the first few years of its life. Wherever it is produced, its growth rate fluctuates, slowing to a moderate rate outside of its optimal tropical habitat.
In the spring and early summer, lavender-blue flower panicles almost cover this tree’s fern-like foliage. The flowers are followed by woody fruit capsules that contain many winged seeds.
It usually thrive in warm climes, USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, and is often suitable for big outdoor spaces. Although they need irrigation during prolonged dry spells, they are somewhat drought-tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases.
Plant your jacaranda, which should ideally receive a few hours of sunlight each day for the best blooming. If necessary, smaller jacaranda shrubs may take some light shade, although inadequate sunlight can reduce the quantity and brilliance of their blossoms, and it hhas the aility to grow in both clay and loamy soils.
However, it should be planted in something other than any soil regarded as heavy, damp, or poorly draining soil, as the roots will thrive with the proper moisture. On the contrary, you must also be aware that a greater danger of root rot, and fungi infestations can result from water-logged soil.
As a general guideline, water your jacaranda shrubs when the surface layer of soil feels too dry to the touch. These trees demand constant moisture throughout the year and frequently need extra irrigation during periods of extreme heat.
2. Purple Orchid Tree
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The Hong Kong orchids or the Bauhinia blakeana are spectacular specimens planted in warm, arid conditions because of their dramatic leaves and long-blooming colorful flowers. Even though the flowers are not actual orchids, their shape, and vibrant colors are suggestive of them.
Although deciduous and lose their leaves in the late winter before sprouting buds in the spring, these lovely tropical trees are frequently called evergreens. They produce huge, durable blooms in colors of purple and rose pink, occasionally with some white flowers as well, and have large, butterfly-shaped leaves.
Moreover, this tree is a suitable option for public gardens and urban landscaping since, unlike the common orchid tree, or the Bauhinia variegata. As its flowers are sterile, it doesn’t generate seed pods that could exacerbate allergies or cause litter or yield fruits.
Later in the season, though, it does produce a moderate amount of debris from discarded flowers and leaves. Hummingbirds and other pollinators are drawn to it by its vibrant colors and blossoms, and you will see them chippering around.
The vast canopy of this tree, which can grow up to 40 feet tall and cast a lot of shade, needs room to spread out. It typically creates multiple major trunks rather than a single central trunk. If you prevent future issues, plant feet away from your house or other structure.
These vibrant trees look stunning when arranged in rows eight to ten feet apart to serve as a property boundary or as an accent in a more oversized garden design. This tree tolerates a variety of lighting conditions. It will blossom in full sun, half sun, or partial shade.
The soil should be loamy, sandy, and somewhat acidic for this tree to grow well, the soil must be evenly drained and wet. You may add additives, such as compost, to clay soils before planting to give the soil a more crumbly texture.
In short, it has low to moderate water requirements despite preferring moist, loamy soil. Because of its high tolerance for drought, overwatering may make it bloom less aggressively.
3. Chaste Tree
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A deciduous shrub known as the “chaste” Vitex agnus-castus produces clusters of purple blooms in the summer. The leaves on this plant have five leaflets arranged in a palm-like pattern.
When you plant the tree, you will be aware of how the aroma of the leaves is comparable to the aroma of the sage herb. The midsummer purple flower clusters, or panicles, resemble the butterfly bush in appearance. Four peppercorn-like seeds are found inside the black fruit, occasionally used to season cuisine.
Like other shrubs, the Vitex tree grows best when planted in the spring months, so it has plenty of time to set down its roots before going dormant for the upcoming winter. Most gardeners and enthusiasts choose to maintain this potentially invasive plant at a height of ten feet or less, even though it is a fast-growing shrub that may grow up to seven feet in a single season, but even at this small height, it still looks great.
This shrub is simple to grow and presents few difficulties for a backyard gardener. Success is almost certain if you avoid excessively damp or compacted dirt. The vitex tree’s major drawback is that it could grow too quickly, necessitating regular trimming to keep it balanced.
Most of the trees and shrubs in the Vitex genus are tropical; only this particular species is native to a temperate environment. Similar to how the butterfly bush is produced in regions with freezing winters, this plant occasionally dies in winter and is planted as a perennial in colder areas in zones five and six.
Once a vitex is established, you won’t need to water it in most areas. Because organic mulches retain too much water, you should avoid utilizing them. Although the best blossoms happen in full sun, this tree may grow well in full sun to part shade. This shrub can tolerate acidic and slightly alkaline soils, but it dislikes rich soil because it risks holding too much moisture near the roots.
4. Eastern Redbud
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If you’ve ever seen a multi-trunk tree covered in lovely purple blooms in the wintertime (but without leaves), you’ve probably seen a redbud bush. One of the earliest trees to bloom annually is this one.
Illnesses, insect assaults, and other harsh environmental conditions can cause this species to have shorter lifespans. Despite this negative aspect, many people think that planting this tree is well worth it all because of how beautiful it can get with the little light purple blooms. It assumes a vase-like shape and is prone to sprouting many trunks, as the heart-shaped leaves are between three and five inches long.
For most of the growing season, they are green, but in the autumn, they become yellowish-green. Even before the purple leaf buds begin to unfold, the Fabaceae family’s distinctive pea-like purple flowers begin to blossom near late winter to earlier springtime.
Zones four through eight are suitable for growing the redbud tree. Its origins are mostly found in the eastern and midwestern United States. After a suitable establishment time of one to two years, the tree is considered to be drought-tolerant.
One of those plants that dislike transplantation makes sure to pick a good spot for it and don’t move it. If possible, try to plant the redbud away from strong winds because its many branches are prone to snapping. However, before the redbud tree blooms, prune it in the winter, and if you wish to control several trunks and build a more solid structure, start trimming the plant while it is still young.
Redbuds trees thrive in both full and partial shade, as thee full sun promotes the best flowering, although some shade is advised in hot climes. If the soil is dehydrated at a depth of two to three inches, eastern redbuds usually require irrigation once a week. During dry conditions, you may need to water more regularly.
5. Saucer Magnolia
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Magnolia liliiflora, a famous flowering tree or large shrub, and Magnolia denudata, a native of Japan lily tree, were crossed to produce the saucer magnolia. Although it is occasionally referred to as tulip magnolia, it should not be mistaken for tulip trees.
Although it frequently takes the appearance of a multi-stemmed shrubby plant, it can be trained to take the shape of a small tree by being pruned in the first few years to have a single central trunk.
While several cultivars are available with pure white, pure pink, magenta, and of course, purple flowers, the native saucer magnolia species produces early spring pinkish-white blossoms. The plant is a perfect specimen for a landscape thanks to its well-rounded crown.
It grows slowly, gaining between 12 and 24 inches per growing season. The horizontal growth of the rope-like tree roots of the saucer magnolia lends stability. Unlike other varieties of magnolia trees that might damage a home’s foundation if placed too close, its roots do not spread widely or deeply.
Although saucer magnolias prefer full sun, they may also grow in situations with some shade. While saucer magnolia shrubs can grow in clay soils, they prefer moist, acidic, organically rich, and well-drained loam to have the right growth within the roots.
Water the tree deeply and frequently throughout the first year after planting. After that, saucer magnolias only require irrigation during dry spells. Just keep in mind that these trees can tolerate moderately decent levels of drought after they are established.
Early trimming won’t be possible if, like most homeowners, you bought your saucer magnolia from the previous owner rather than planting your sapling. Do not prune mature trees in the same manner as a sapling, so this is when you can remove only limbs that are broken or dead.
Conclusion
This list of purple flowering trees to color your homes is like no other, so keep in mind:
- Purple orchid trees are ideal for those looking to get the most vibrant purple and even slightly pink flowers in their homes.
- Jacaranda trees do best in warmer climates and thrive under good light conditions. If you’re planning to grow these, ensure you can provide this.
- The chaste tree looks best planted next to varieties like the royal purple empress tree, lavender twist, purple wisteria, mountain laurel, Korean lilac tree, and desert willow.
- If you’re trying to get more reddish-purple foliage, try growing purple leaf plum or royal purple smoke tree.
So, now that you’re all set, you can know so well which tree will you be adding to add its beautiful blossoms when the growing time comes.
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