Discover the Beauty: 12 Purple Flowering Trees for Your Garden
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You can’t go wrong with a purple flowering tree if you want to add eye-catching color to your landscape. Especially if you’ve already added purple flowering perennials to your garden design and are looking for more of this vibrant hue.
These purple flowering trees come in various shapes and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your growing needs. My personal favorite is lilac, while the tree lacks longevity during the blooming season, the floral scent is unmatched in my neck of the woods. If you are not sure if this is the right tree for your climate check the growing guide chart attached to each of the trees listed below.
Quickly Find Trees With Purple Flowers:
1. Takasago Flowering Cherry (Prunus Sieboldii)
The popular Takasago Flowering Cherry is stunning, with purple or pink blossoms adorning the branches like a flowery veil.
It’s a popular ornamental tree, often planted in parks, gardens, streets, and avenues.
It’s also a very important symbol in Japanese culture, representing the transience of life and the beauty of nature.
| Species: | Prunus Sieboldii |
| Growth Rate: | Slow to moderate |
| Native Range: | Japan, Korea, China |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 4-8 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, some urban pollution |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Once a year in spring, with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Spring: March to April |
2. Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda Mimosifolia)
Jacaranda is a living celebration of nature’s artistry, with a crown of soft fern-like foliage and lavender-blue blossoms. It’s a close relative to the bright yellow flowering tree known as the Jacaranda Tipu Tree.
Floral Fusion Tips
If you’re looking for taller companions, consider planting Birds of Paradise or Golden Penda around your Jacaranda tree. Their bright colors complement the Jacaranda’s purple hues, creating a tropical paradise right in your backyard.
Native to South America, the Jacaranda tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and is a relatively low-maintenance tree once established. Jacaranda is a popular ornamental tree, often planted in gardens, parks, and along city streets.
| Species: | Jacaranda Mimosifolia |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Native Range: | South America |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 9-11 |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, slightly acidic soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, some urban pollution |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Once a year in spring, with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late spring to early summer: October to December in the Southern Hemisphere; April to June in the Northern Hemisphere |
3. Magnolia ‘Royal Purple’ (Soulangeana)
Magnolia ‘Royal Purple’ is a majestic magnolia with rich, velvety purple flowers that fill the air with a lovely scent from their star-shaped blooms.
It’s a relatively low-maintenance tree that prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It can be pruned in late winter or early spring if necessary but is otherwise a trouble-free plant.
This beautiful tree is perfect for adding color and fragrance to a garden or landscape.
| Species: | Magnolia × Soulangeana |
| Growth Rate: | Slow to medium |
| Native Range: | Garden hybrid |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 5-9 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Moist, well-drained, acidic soil |
| Tolerate: | Some drought |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Twice a year in spring and fall with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Early spring: March to April |
4. Texas Mountain Laurel (Dermatophyllumsecundiflorum)
Texas Mountain Laurel has one of the most interesting scented flowers I’ve ever discovered. The smell of these flowers reminds me of grape soda, so sweet and fruity. It’s a tough and forgiving tree with clusters of deep purple flowers and cascading petals.
My Pollinator Pick
I’m not the only one who loves the fruity grape smell of the Texas Mountain Laurel flowers. Out of all the trees on this list, choose this one if you’re looking to attract the most bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Their scent is too strong for them to ignore!
Texas Mountain Laurel is a hardy tree, resilient to drought, and can improve your garden soil by reducing erosion. Its evergreen leaves ensure that the tree remains a point of interest even outside its blooming season.
| Species: | Dermatophyllum Secundiflorum |
| Growth Rate: | Slow to medium |
| Native Range: | Southwestern United States, Mexico |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 7-10 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, alkaline soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer, some urban pollution |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Once a year in spring with a slow-release fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Early to mid-spring: March to April |
5. Royal Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus Coggygria)
Royal Purple Smoke is a regal and smoky tree with leaves of deep purple and a haze of pinkish-purple flowers. While on a walk at our nearby community garden, I snapped a shot of the picture above which shows what the purple smoke tree looks like during the first few years of growth. Notice how the smokey flowers outweigh the leaves 2-1!
So, consider this tree if you’re looking for a relatively low-maintenance plant. It’s easy to grow, making it a popular choice for gardens and landscaping.
The Royal Purple Smoke Tree is a popular choice for landscaping. It is often used as a specimen tree, and its unique red leaves make it stand out in any landscape design.
The tree is also a good choice for adding color and texture to mixed borders and as a backdrop for other plants.
| Species: | Cotinus Coggygria |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Southern Europe, Central Asia |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 5-8 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer, pollution |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Once a year in spring, with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Early to mid-summer: June to July |
6. Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia Blakeana)
The Hong Kong Orchid is a strikingly beautiful tree with purple-pink orchid-like flowers that bloom in profusion and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is a hardy and adaptable plant that can tolerate various soil types and growing conditions but prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
It’s relatively low maintenance and requires little pruning.
| Species: | Bauhinia Blakeana |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Native Range: | Garden hybrid |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 9-11 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, some urban pollution |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Twice a year in spring and fall with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | November to March |
7. Andenken an Ludwig Spath’ Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris)
A tribute to Ludwig Spath, this lilac boasts clusters of dark purple flowers that emit a sweet fragrance that wafts on the breeze. It’s a popular garden plant and is often used as a specimen shrub or hedge.
It’s also a common choice for cut flower arrangements. It has received many awards, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
| Species: | Syringa Vulgaris |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Southeastern Europe to Eastern Asia |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 3-7 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late spring: May to June |
8. Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
The Crepe Myrtle is a graceful tree with delicate, crinkled flowers in shades of lavender and purple that flutter in the breeze.
Crepe Myrtles make great ornamental plants. They’re valued for their striking, crepe-like flowers, which appear in summer and last for several weeks.
Depending on the species you grow you can expect red flowers on this tree white, pink, or in this case purple.
Crepe Myrtles prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Moreover, they’re drought-tolerant once established. They can be pruned in late winter or early spring to promote healthy growth and abundant flowering.
In areas with cold winters, Crepe Myrtles may die back to the ground in winter but will resprout from the roots in spring.
| Species: | Lagerstroemia Indica |
| Growth Rate: | Medium to fast |
| Native Range: | Asia |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 7-9 |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, slightly acidic soil |
| Tolerate: | Heat, drought, deer |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late spring to fall: May to September |
9. Chaste Tree (Vitex Agnus-Castus)
The Chaste is a lovely and hardy tree with spikes of purple flowers that attract pollinators and emit a spicy, aromatic fragrance.
The Chaste tree produces showy, fragrant spikes of lavender-blue flowers in the summer and attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.
The tree is also drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for xeriscaping and other water-conserving landscaping practices.
| Species: | Vitex Agnus-Castus |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Mediterranean |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 6-9 |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer, heat |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Summer: June to August |
10. Purple Orchid Tree (Bauhinia Purpurea)
The Purple Orchid is a tropical tree with exquisite orchid-like flowers in shades of deep purple that bloom in clusters and create a magical canopy of color.
The Purple Orchid Tree is a fast-growing and hardy tree that can tolerate a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, making it a popular choice for landscaping and reforestation projects.
Its nectar-rich flowers also attract a variety of pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds, which helps to support biodiversity.
| Species: | Bauhinia Purpurea |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Native Range: | Southeast Asia |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 9-11 |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, heat |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late summer to winter: August to January |
11. Korean Lilac Tree (Syringa pubescens)
The Korean Lilac is a lovely tree with lilac-purple flowers that bloom in clusters, fill the air with their sweet scent, and attract bees and butterflies.
In Korean folklore, the tree is associated with good luck and protection from evil spirits, and it is often planted near homes and temples for this reason.
In addition, the Korean Lilac tree is a symbol of beauty and purity, and its fragrant, lavender-colored flowers are used in traditional Korean medicine for their anti-inflammatory properties.
| Species: | Syringa Pubescens |
| Growth Rate: | Slow to medium |
| Native Range: | Asia |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 3-7 |
| Exposure: | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late spring: May to June |
12. Purple Robe Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia)
The Purple Robe Locust is a hardy and stunning tree with clusters of purple-pink flowers that bloom in spring, attract pollinators and create a breathtaking display.
It’s a popular choice for landscaping and reforestation projects. Its deep roots also make it useful for erosion control and soil stabilization.
| Species: | Robinia Pseudoacacia |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Native Range: | Eastern United States |
| Hardiness Range: | USDA zones 4-8 |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil Needs: | Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Tolerate: | Drought, poor soil |
| Fertilizing Needs: | Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer |
| Blooming Period: | Late spring: May to June |
Final Thoughts
Incorporating a purple flowering tree into your landscape can provide a vibrant burst of color that will catch the eye and make a lasting impression.
Whether you choose a Royal Purple Smoke Tree, a Takasago Flowering Cherry, or any other stunning trees on this list, you can rest assured that you’ll add a touch of magic to your outdoor space.
So, pick your favorite, and enjoy the beauty and elegance of a purple flowering tree in your garden. Once you’ve added some beautiful tones of purple to your garden, try adding a pop of contrasting color with these orange flowering trees.
Before you go!
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