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Purple Flowering Trees: Our Favorite Picks for Your Yard

Purple Flowering Trees: Our Favorite Picks for Your Yard

Are you searching for a list of purple flowering trees?

Or do you just want to know how you can easily bring color into your yard?

Then look no further than our complete guide!

Our Favorite Purple Flowering Trees

Trees serve many purposes. They clean our air, add privacy, or bear fruit. But many are used for decoration. In fact, many homeowners plant trees for the colorful blooms they produce.

If this describes you, then you need to know about purple flowering trees. There are many types of trees that have purple pedals.

Most are considered exotic, meaning they were brought here from foreign countries like Italy or India.

We’ve picked a handful of trees from various zones that will look great in your yard, all with one thing in common: they have purple flowers. So read on to learn about your options and the highlights of each.

1. Crepe Myrtle

Blooming summer purple crepe myrtle

Vincent Noel/Shutterstock

Lagerstroemia (aka Crepe Myrtle) is a year-round gift from the South. Best in warm climates and full sunlight, its purple flowers captivate the eye.

Although commonly found in the South, they can survive in a variety of soils. Branches have many stems and grow up to 25 feet tall.

This tree’s bark is a wonder of its own, peeling just like a river birch. But don’t try to plant them just anywhere. They grow best in zones 6–10, and some may only be root-heavy in zone 6.

Blooms begin in July and end in September, and they grow best when exposed to full sunlight. Though they will survive for a minimum of 6 hours per day.

2. Jacaranda

Jacaranda trees in Pretoria

Heidre Heyns/Shutterstock

These exotic-looking trees produce fern-like foliage and gorgeous purple blooms. Native to tropical climates like Brazil, Jacarandas prefer warm weather.

They also grow quickly, with potted plants often reaching 6 feet tall. Jacarandas are found in Australia, Italy, and Florida.

Interestingly, they are most commonly found in Southern California. They are so popular here that Fullerton held its first Jacaranda festival in 1931.

While beautiful, their petals are sticky. Because trees are so tall, branches hang over the road. As petals fall, they stick to vehicles and the road, which can be a nuisance.

These purple flowering trees grow best in zones 9 through 11, and their roots are hardy down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Jacaranda trees grow best in full sunlight but can tolerate light shade.

3. Purple Robe Locust

Branches of Purple Robe Locust with beautiful blurry purple flowers and cloudy sky in the background

Mirazroa/Shutterstock

This purple flowering tree is mainly found in North America, but don’t let the pretty flowers fool you. Its stems are prickly and full of thorns.

Growing from its 40-foot branches are small purple leaves that remind us of a Hawaiian Lei. Branches grow between 24 and 36 inches per year, and they do not require much water to thrive.

In fact, they are drought-tolerant. The beautiful purple leaves attract wildlife, and they remain colorful throughout much of the year.

With proper care, this species can live up to 150 years in almost any soil condition. Keep in mind that these trees will not tolerate standing water, so make sure to plant them in an area with proper drainage.

4. Purple Orchid Tree

A purple flowering tree against a vibrant blue sky

Damla Akdere/Shutterstock

Like Jacaranda trees, Purple Orchids are found in zones 9–11. Its exotic-looking purple flowers steal the show, so this tree should be used as a centerpiece.

While tolerant of extreme heat, these trees need full sunlight and must be watered regularly. As a result, they are most commonly found on the southern coasts.

These purple flowering trees are big and beautiful, so they are best used as both a privacy and shade tree. Flowers bloom from September through November, with blooms between three and five inches.

With rapid growth up to 25 feet, these are considered invasive species. So keep that in mind if you live next to a nature snob. Blooms occur from February through May and intermittently throughout the summer.

Which Purple Flowering Tree Will You Pick?

Although we’ve outlined our favorites, there are many, many more options.

When picking a purple flowering tree, however, make sure you understand its ideal climate.

This can make a huge difference in how long it lives and how much it affects your other vegetation.