18 Trees With Purple Flowers That Look Like Wisteria

Trees with purple flowers that look like Wisteria, are ones that bloom in a vibrant color and gracefully blossom up in spring, some would add their fragrance, and others wouldn’t, and this notion is one that we ask ourselves all too often!

There are plenty of purple flowering trees out there, and great many resemble the purple wisteria tree.

As you read this article, you will find out every detail about beautifully blooming purple flowering trees, and maybe you’ll find inspiration for landscaping do-over. 

List of Purple Flower Trees That Look Like Wisteria

1. Chaste Tree

Chaste trees are bound to add some royal purple to your garden and will greatly resemble purple wisteria! Vitex agnus-castus or the chaste tree is a deciduous shrub, praised for its long blooming season. 

– Features

A chaste tree is an upright flowering tree that sports sage-scented green leaves. These blooms have silvery bottoms, producing an astonishing effect when swaying in the wind. Amazing purple flowers appear in summer and will last up to autumn, attracting heaps of butterflies and singing birds.

– Growth Requirements

Vitex agnus-castus tree is low maintenance, and will naturally form a well-balanced posture. It will do extremely well planted next to bed flowers and is winter hardy in climate zones of six to nine.

Also, remember that it needs to be planted in a place where it will receive full sun, and it will thrive as the soil is not a soggy one, on the contrary, it is a well draining one where water will not sit on top of it.

2. Royal Empress Tree

Paulownia Tomentosa goes under many names — the most popular is the Princess Tree or the Royal Empress Tree. The name is only deserving of this beautiful and astonishing wisteria Sinensis look alike. 

– Features

This is a medium-sized deciduous tree with an umbrella-like crown. In spring, a huge number of fragrant, royal purple flowers appear in upright clusters. These blossoms give way to egg-shaped fruits which contain the seeds. 

One big royal empress tree can produce up to 20 million seeds a year, which is one of the reasons why it is very impressive!

The fast-growing Paulownia tomentosa is considered an invasive tree and can cause problems if not kept in check. 

– Growth Requirements

The princess tree grows up to 40 feet tall and will tolerate a wide variety of soils and growing conditions. It will thrive at its best when it is provided with full sun and is winter hardy in a climate range of five to nine. 

In addition, it prefers a soil that is rich in organic material, or nutrients, at the same time, a type of soil that is a well-draining one which will not accumulate water. When it has established intself properly, every week, you can water it with two gallons of water, and this beautiful tree will grow. 

3. Purple Smoke Tree

Royal purple smoke tree or Cotinus Coggygria is a bushy and large deciduous shrub-shaped tree admired for its attractive rounded leaf foliage. The leaves emerge in rich maroon and red colors in spring, turn purple when they mature, and finally turn even redder in autumn. 

– Features

In late spring this tree puts yet another show — when leathery and large pink flower blossoms emerge and begin to get fluffy in the summer!

When looked at in groups, these flowers have a smoke-like appearance, hence the name of this tree. Cotinus Coggygria will be a perfect accent plant with a very long productive season. 

– Growth Requirements

The purple smoke tree will grow upright and open, up to 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide at maximum. They are virtually pest and disease free and enjoy full sun, receiving six to eight hours every day, with well-drained moist soil for their feet. This tree is winter-hardy in climates from four to nine. 

4. Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis is another beautiful purple flowering tree that will remind you of a wisteria tree. It is a spreading deciduous shrub with narrow, willowy leaves that emerge in groups from spring to fall. 

– Features

On top of the branches, sweet and fragrant lilac and purple trumpet-like flowers emerge, oddly reminding people of catalpa flowers. These range from pink to purple and give way to bean pods that will stay on the plant well into the following spring. 

Also note that some hummingbirds will visit this tree very often to pollinate flowers or eat the seeds. The shaggy bark and twisted branches of Chilopsis linearis make this one for an intriguing winter silhouette. 

– Growth Requirements

Fast-growing and drought-tolerant, the desert willow can be grown as a lovely ornamental plant instead of wisteria Sinensis. It will grow up to 30 feet tall in addition to 20 feet wide and will enjoy climate zones between seven and 11. 

Note that as it is a tolerant tree, it means that you must not forget to water it, just because it is resilient, hence, you must water it thoroughly once a month, so that this particular characteristic will be encouraged. In addition, don’t forget that this plant needs to receive full sun, and partial shades of sun.

5. Eastern Redbud

Eastern redbud or Cercis canadensis is another purple beauty ideal to make its place on this list of wisteria look-alikes. Often called the lavender twist, it’s admired for its beautiful purple flowers. 

– Features

Cercis canadensis sports a bunch of rose and pink flowers that will emerge in clusters in the early spring. The flowers create a dramatic display. The Eastern redbud tree has beautiful heart-shaped leaves. These will appear bluish and green in summer and will turn bright yellow before falling off in autumn. 

The flowers of the lavender twist are attracting honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The cheerful flowers later turn to seedpods which will last for an entire growing season. 

– Growth Requirements

The redbud tree is pest free, but you should keep an eye out for canker, die-backs, mildew, and verticillium wilt which are its most common enemies. This one will grow up to 30 feet tall and around the same in width, surviving winters in climate zones of four to nine. 

This height will be reached if it is given the proper conditions, such as full to partial shades of sun, it does tolerate clay-type of soils, and well-draining ones, however, the only condition is that it must be kept moist.

6. Mountain Laurel

This is a state flower of Connecticut and grows as a broadleaf shrub there. Kalmia Latifolia or mountain laurel gets covered in clusters of bright and pale pink to purple flowers which will only last for several weeks in early summer. 

– Features

The blossoms of kalmia latifolia are quite showy, bell-shaped with deep pink spots on the inside. The flowers give way to brownish fruits that will stay on the tree until winter. The foliage will last quite longer than the blossoms, though. 

Quality oval, glossy leaves change from light to dark green and purple throughout the year and are quite similar to those of rhododendrons. This is one of the most beautiful flowering trees often displayed as an ornamental specimen in quite a few gardens. 

– Growth Requirements

The mountain laurel grows up to 15 feet tall and performs best in partial shade in moist, but well-drained soils. It will tolerate a wide range of exposures to light and will be winter hardy in climate zones of four to nine. On another note, remember when the sun is too bright on this tree for a prolonged time, the leaves will start to crisp up.

7. Orchid Tree

Prized for the orchid-like flowers, bauhinia purpurea will have downward-facing branches full of these rose and purple beauties. The purple orchid tree is one that will remind a great many of the purple wisteria tree. This is a small evergreen or deciduous shrub with a canopy of bright green leaves. 

– Features

The leaves of bauhinia purpurea are deeply cleft at the apex and resemble butterfly wings. Ravishing orchid-shaped flowers bloom heavily from late winter, all the way to early spring.

The flowers are bright pink, purple, and white and contrastingly shine against the foliage to attract many birds and bees, which are the pollinators who would visit and bloom the garden or the environment. They are produced in small clusters on the tips of the branches. They feature unequal petals each narrowing down to the tip. 

– Growth Requirements

The purple orchid tree beautiful ornamental tree that will grow up to 35 feet tall and wide. They are often used for borders, or as street trees in tropical climates and frost-free areas. If you’re like enough to live in climate zones between nine and 11, you should look to plant this one in your garden! 

8. Purple Robe Locust

Also known as a black locust or Robinia pseudoacacia, purple robe locust is a spreading deciduous tree with attractive leaves and pendulous scented small flowers. 

– Features

The dark blue and green leaves have a couple of oval leaflets each. These will turn yellow in autumn and then shed to the ground. When the leaves fall off, they will reveal a beautiful rough bark. 

Dense clusters of creamy and fragrant purple and white flowers emerge in late spring and last well into summer. These are highly attractive to birds and bees and will give way to purple seed pods that will be a food source for a huge variety of wildlife. 

– Growth Requirements

Purple robe locusts will grow up to 50 feet high and can spread around 30 feet. They perform best in a moist and well-drained soils, as long as it is a rich one with nutrients or different minerals. Purple robe locust is a great tree for difficult areas where others don’t grow well, as long as you live in climate zones four to nine. 

9. Crape Myrtle

This one will oddly remind you of wisteria but in a positive way! Crape myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica is a small upright shrub highly praised for its beautiful purple and pink flowers. 

– Features

These blooms adorn the branch tips and extend fairly long, which will add to the already gorgeous appearance of this purple flowering tree. Blooms of Lagerstroemia indica appear somewhat late in the season — they are blooming from summer up to the late autumn. 

The dark green leaves will turn purple in the fall when the tree will get ready to shed them off. These falling leaves will reveal an amazing winter silhouette and a unique-looking smooth bark. This tree is a wonderful specimen and ornamental, which will give its value not only in the growing season but the entire year.

– Growth Requirements

The crape myrtle tree loves full sun and grows readily in medium moisture, well-drained soils. In addition, the soil’s acidity level should be neutral to slightly acidic. These plants are tolerant to summer heat and drought and are winter hardy in climate zones from six to nine. 

10. Texas Mountain Laurel

Sophora secundiflora or Texas mountain laurel is highly regarded for its beautiful flowers and seeds. It is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with an upright growing habit, and can be trained as a single or multi-trunk small tree or even a bonsai! 

– Features

In spring, this tree produces clusters of fragrant lilac, purple and blue flowers. They are quite reminiscent of purple wisteria blooms and the fragrance is often remindful of grape soda or bubblegum. 

The beautiful purple blooms are highly rich in nectar content which would blossom up in spring time, and as they would be doing so, they would attract bees and butterflies.

Note that these pollinators are necessary for the pollination process to succeed over the years, and that your tree and the surrounding ones would benefit.

The flowers are followed by fuzzy pods of seeds that look like Christmas decorations on the tree. 

– Growth Requirements

The seeds are said to be used to make necklaces by Native Americans and have been highly prized and sought. This tree will grow up to 25 feet high and 10 feet wide.

Texas mountain laurel will love medium moist, well-drained soils and full sun. It’s a great specimen, hedge, or foundation plant that will be winter hardy in climate zones of seven to 10.

11. Purple Lilly Magnolia

Purple lily magnolia is a beautiful variety coming from a family of blooming trees with several species. If you want to add some purple then we recommend the ‘Ann’ magnolia liliflora variety. 

– Features

It is a small shrub tree with fragrant purple flowers. These blossoms flower from spring to summer. They are cup-shaped with six or eight upright petals, emerging purple and then going to subtle pink as they mature. This is a hybrid tree — the flowers emerge somewhat later than with usual Magnolia liliflora trees. 

– Growth Requirements

Purple lily magnolia enjoys full sun and grows best in acidic, moist, and well-drained soil, in addition to an organic one. Make sure that you don’t over water this tree, because doing so will damage its roots, as water would clog beneath it.

Furthermore, it will grow best in climate zones of three to eight, when the weather is a little windy, it will do perfectly, as this is a condition which it needs to grow. 

12. Flowering Dogwood

A flowering dogwood tree or Cornus Florida is another tree that looks like wisteria. It is a large shrubby deciduous tree that grows a rounded canopy. Its star-shaped blossoms emerge in early spring before the first leaves even show up. 

– Features

The blossoms are round and pointy, purple at the top, and make for a wonderful presence in the garden. After the flowers have fallen off, rounded red fruits appear in late summer. 

Flowering dogwood has oval and glossy leaves which in autumn turn red and shady violet, making this tree a true fall beauty. The bark is similar to alligator skin, becoming gray and brown as the tree matures.

– Growth Requirements

Flowering dogwood trees grow 30 feet tall, and even 30 feet wide and thrive in partial shade, fertile, and well-drained soils.

When it comes to the soil requirements, remember that it needs to be 5.5 to 6.5, which means it isn’t acidic, yet not neutral as well. The soil must be moist, and organic, for this tree to bloom its purple flowers.

They will tolerate the full sun, but you should protect the roots by mulching the topsoil when it gets hot. The Cornus Florida trees are native to the mainland US and will do perfectly well in climate zones of four to eight.

13. Common Lilac

The Common Lilac tree or Syringa Vulgaris is another worthy mention on this list of purple flowering trees that look like Wisteria. It’s an upright, deciduous, and shrubs tree with fragrant magenta and purple double flowers. 

– Features

Blooms are opening up from purple buds in early spring in abundance to create a dramatic scene. The upright-growing branches are covered in dark green, heart-like leaves that remain luscious all through the summer. 

First introduced in the 19th century, the Charles Joly Lilac tree is one of the best of its species if you’re looking for a wisteria-like plant. Another worthy lilac type is Syringa pubescens or Kim Lilac which sports lavender-colored rich purple buds and flowers. 

– Growth Requirements 

Both Syringa vulgaris and Syringa pubescens will grow up to 12 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide. The common lilacs are full sun lovers, easily grown in fertile, alkaline, and medium well-drained soils. 

The only maintenance requirement is that you provide them with enough air circulation, so that the soil doesn’t remain compact, because when it does so, the roots will be stressed. These award-winning trees will be winter-hardy in zones four to eight. 

14. Hibiscus Tree

Often these flowers are known as the Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus Syriacus is a compact deciduous shrubs tree with gently ruffled flowers in almost any color. Purple varieties of hibiscus Syriacus are French Cabaret and Purple Satin. The flowers are four inches across, in addition to having a dark red throat and elongating stamens. 

– Features

These flowering trees bloom continuously from summer to autumn and make for a valuable addition to any garden.

The flowers of the HIbiscus tree will decorate the tree all through the season. The hibiscus tree foliage consists of oval palmately leaves which will appear pale green in spring and then go to medium green for the summer and fall. 

– Growth Requirements

Hibiscus trees grow up to 12 feet tall and spread up to 10 feet. They enjoy full sun and partial shade, these plants are best grown in medium and well-drained soils, which is also organic. 

Once established they will tolerate drought, urban settings, as well as heat and humidity, hence they thrive in summer time. Nonetheless, these trees are winter hardy in zones of five to eight. 

15. Silk Floss Tree

The silk floss tree or Ceiba speciosa is a deciduous tree from the Malvaceae family. When young, the tree has smooth green skin which later turns gray. The leaves are alternating and grow on elongating stems of fresh growth. 

– Features

The blooms on the silk floss trees are quite large, with five petals which are white in the middle and pink to purple on the edges. 

They bloom heavily when there’s a shortage of foliage which makes this tree so heavily pronounced in the garden. The blooms are followed by oval brown fruits which contain small black seeds. 

– Growth Requirements

Ceiba speciosa trees grow up to 35 feet and love full sun and well-drained and moist soils. You should irrigate it well at first, but once established the tree needs no further extra care. The silk floss trees are winter-hardy in climate zones nine to 11. You will see them bloom from early spring all the way to summer.

16. Takasago Flowering Cherry

Japanese flowering cherry tree or Prunus sieboldii, often called Takasago flowering cherry is a small deciduous tree that has gracefully arching branches, which are resembling those of Wisteria.

– Features

The branches on this cherry tree are heavily populated with charming, fully double, and rich pink to purple flowers from mid to late spring. These abundant blossoms are packed with up to 100 petals making this Takasago flowering cherry look like a puff. 

These cherries simply create a fantastic floral display, in addition, you would see them at times in cities, because they would tolerate pollution levels in the urban areas. 

The leaves emerge bronze, but they go to bright green as they mature in late summer, and form a dense canopy. When leaves fall, they reveal the shiny coppery bark which adds some winter interest to your landscaping design.

– Growth Requirements

They typically grow up to 15 feet in height and perform best in full sun in moist well-drained soils. They are the perfect choice as specimen plants and are winter hardy in zones four to nine.

This tree would grow at its perfect peak when it is placed in rich and fertile soils, which is also a well-draining one, remember not to over water it, because the roots are fragile.

17. Jacaranda Tree 

The awarded jacaranda mimosifolia or Jacaranda tree is definitely a beauty that won’t leave you disappointed when searching for a Wisteria twin. 

– Features

The jacaranda tree is covered with purple trumpet-shaped blossoms that flower from late spring up till early to mid-summer. This purple beauty puts on a floral show unlike anything else in your garden. 

The tree can suddenly burst into blossoms at any time, especially if you grow it in a warmer climate. The beautiful flowers are followed by mahogany seed heads often used in floral arrangements.

– Growth Requirements

Depending on the climate, the fine bright green foliage can either be evergreen or deciduous. This moderately-growing tree grows in an upright fashion up to 50 feet tall. Jacaranda trees love the full sun and moderately warm to tropical seasons, which places them in climate zones 10 and 11. 

18. Korean Lilac tree

Connected to the previously mentioned Syringa Vulgaris, the Korean lilac tree, or Miss Kim lilac is a charming shrub tree that will provide flowering and ornamental value for three seasons of the year! 

– Features

It gets covered with abundant lavender-colored, and fragrant clumps of flowers in early to late spring. The flowers open from rich buds of purple color.

It will also provide some autumn interest when the dark green foliage turns burgundy. This is a slow grower and ideal for small, petite gardens. 

– Growth Conditions

Korean lilac is much smaller than the French or common lilac tree and grows up to eight feet tall. It’s a full sun lover, best grown in moist and well-drained soils and chalky loam. You can grow them in harsh weather conditions in climates from three to eight! 

Conclusion

If you’re looking for purple trees that look like Wisteria, you will surely stumble upon quite a few samples of purple garden beauties.

If you’d like to get that Wisteria effect but cannot grow it in your climate or soil, we definitely recommend going for: 

• The blooms of the Jacaranda are similar to the ones of the Wisteria, from their colors, to even the different shades that they would thrive in, during spring to early summer.
• The Texas mountain laurel is also a great addition to your garden if you wish to a purple flowing tree like the Wisteria, but make sure that this three would have a well-draining soil.
• You can place a flowering cherry tree, if you are located in an area where it has pollution varieties, because this tree would tolerate it.

Although any tree on this list will bring you that landscaping effect to substitute for wisteria in your garden perfectly!