Trees with purple flowers in Texas bring an aesthetic charm to the landscape. These trees, with their deep purple blooms, create a tranquil and picturesque atmosphere, adding a vibrant and unique layer to the panorama.

Trees With Purple Flowers in Texas

Knowing which trees produce beautiful purple flowers can help you decide what to plant in your Texas garden. This complete guide contains details about such ornamental trees that you will find attractive, so check out the descriptions about these trees below.

Different Kinds of Trees With Purple Flowers in Texas

1. Texas Mountain Laurel

Texas Mountain Laurel

Growing Season
  • Winter
  • Spring
Leaf Shape Oblong
Specific Needs
  • Rocky well-drained infertile soil
  • Full sunlight
Common Pests
  • Red mountain laurel mirid
  • Genista caterpillar

The Texas mountain laurel aka Sophora secundiflora is an evergreen tree native to the limestone soils of Central and West Texas. It is known for its distinctive purple flowers, filling the air with a sweet perfume that can be detected from far away.

The Texas mountain laurel is highly adaptable and requires very little maintenance when planted in optimal conditions, making it a perfect choice for a touch of beauty.

2. Chaste Tree

Chaste Tree

Growing Season
  • Summer
  • Fall
Leaf Shape Palmately compound
Specific Needs
  • Full sunlight
  • Soil with very good drainage
Common Pests
  • Scales
  • Whiteflies
  • Aphids

Native to the Mediterranean and Southern regions of Europe, Chaste Tree or Vitex agnus-castus is an attractive ornamental with its purple flowers and small berries. These purple flowering trees can reach heights of up to 20 feet depending on variables such as soil conditions.

It not only features purple flowers but also attractive, sometimes silver-colored foliage. While Chaste Tree does grow in parts of Texas, it may require extra attention.

3. Purple Orchid Tree

Purple Orchid Tree

Growing Season
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
Leaf Shape Two-lobed
Specific Needs
  • Partial to full sunlight
  • Moist but well-drained soil
Common Pests Aphids

The purple orchid tree aka Bauhinia purpurea is an ornamental tree native to tropical India and parts of Southeast Asia that is also well-suited for cultivation in the warmer climates of Texas.

It has compound leaves with five glossy leaflets and grows about twenty feet tall, displaying corymbs of vibrant purple flowers. With appropriate tree care, it will bring beauty and life to any garden setting in which it inhabits.

4. Desert Willow

Desert Willow

Growing Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Leaf Shape
  • Narrow
  • Willow-like
Specific Needs
  • Moist loamy dry soil
  • Full sunlight
Common Pests
  • Thrips
  • Mealybugs

The desert willow or Chilopsis linearis is a deciduous tree that is well adapted to arid environments and grows naturally in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is a small to medium-sized ornamental purple flowering trees.

Its attractive flowers are a deep purple color and form thin, willowy branches. The leathery leaves are green throughout summer while yellowish fall foliage can be observed before its final defoliation in winter.

5. Texas Smoke Tree

Texas Smoke Tree

Growing Season Spring
Leaf Shape Oval
Specific Needs
  • Full or partial sunlight
  • Well-drained soil containing compost
Common Pests
  • Aphids
  • Spider mites

The texas smoke tree is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub native to Texas that can reach about five feet in height. In late spring it produces clusters of small purple flowers that emerge from the tips of branches and give off an airy smoke-like appearance, lending the tree its common name.

The leaves are round or oval with a velvety texture, turning to shades of yellow, orange, and red during the fall months.

6. Texas Redbud

Texas Redbud

Growing Season Spring
Leaf Shape Heart-shaped
Specific Needs
  • Full or partial sunlight
  • Well-drained but moist soil
Common Pests
  • Weevils
  • Leafrollers
  • Treehoppers

The Texas Redbud aka Cercis canadensis var. texensis is one of the earliest blooming trees native to the Southern United States with a lovely display of vibrant purple flowers.

This deciduous tree can reach up to 30 feet in height and 15 feet in width, with a rounded crown and heart-shaped leaves that change from green to yellow as the season progresses to autumn. Texas Redbuds are relatively easy to care for.

7. Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle

Growing Season
  • Fall
  • Spring
Leaf Shape Oval
Specific Needs
  • Full sunlight
  • Neutral or slightly acidic soil
Common Pests
  • Aphids
  • Beetles

The crepe myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica is one of the most beautiful purple flowering trees in Texas, renowned for its long-lasting, showy blooms. This deciduous species typically grows between 10 and 30 feet in height, with an array of vibrant colors including rose, white, lavender, and purple.

Crape myrtles are highly drought-resistant once established. They produce attractive peeling bark when mature, which adds to the aesthetics of landscapes. You can get some Crepe Myrtles landscaping ideas from our detailed post.

8. Purple Lily Magnolia

Purple Lily Magnolia

Growing Season
  • Winter
  • Spring
Leaf Shape
  • Elliptic
  • Ovate
Specific Needs
  • Partial or full sunlight
  • Slightly acidic soil medium moisture
Common Pests Magnolia scales

The purple lily magnolia, a hybrid tree with dark purple flowers, is natively found in East Texas and possesses many desirable characteristics. It is extremely resilient to both cold and heat that can accompany the diverse climate of Texas.

It produces large ornamental blooms in which the deep purple petals attract numerous butterflies and other pollinators during its flowering season in late winter to early spring. There are many types of Magnolia trees to choose from.

9. Royal Empress Tree

Royal Empress Tree

Growing Season
  • Fall
  • Spring
Leaf Shape Heart-shaped
Specific Needs
  • Sandy well-drained loamy soil
  • Full sunlight
Common Pests
  • Slugs
  • Snails

The Royal Empress Tree aka paulownia tomentosa is an attractive ornamental tree with lush, large foliage and vibrant purple flowers. Native to tropical Asia, it was introduced in the United States as an ornamental species in 1902 and has grown rapidly in popularity due to its fast growth rate and ease of care.

The royal empress tree reaches up to 50 feet tall with a diameter of 40 feet at full maturity.

10. Fragrant Lilac Tree

Fragrant Lilac Tree

Growing Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Leaf Shape Ovate
Specific Needs
  • Moist, slightly alkaline soil
  • Complete sunlight
Common Pests
  • Borers
  • Scales

The fragrant lilac tree or syringa vulgaris is an ornamental shrub with deep purple flowers that can thrive in warmer climates such as Texas.

This deciduous flowering plant is both drought and heat tolerant, able to withstand the harsh climatic conditions of the Lone Star State while still providing beautiful blooms each spring. Fragrant lilac trees grow quickly and are easily maintained with occasional pruning.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned about various trees with purple flowers in Texas, it will be easier for you to choose and plant them in your garden.

To summarize the information given here:

  • You should choose texas mountain laurel, purple lily magnolia, etc. if you plan to have trees in the winter.
  • Trees such as purple orchid trees or Texas redbuds are suitable for growing in the spring.
  • Summertime in Texas is great for cultivating chaste trees or desert willows.

In conclusion, you can have different trees with purple flowers for different seasons in Texas.

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