Looking to add unique vibrancy to your outdoor garden with purple flowers that grow on trees? Then this article is for you!
Species of trees that produce purple blooms include Crape Myrtle, Lilac Bush, Chaste Tree, Butterfly Bush, Desert Willow, Black Locust, Hibiscus Tree, Arabian Lilac, Glory Bush, and Jacaranda Tree’.
Keep reading to learn more about these mesmerizing plants as we discuss their key features and characteristics.
1. Crape Myrtle
- Family: Lythraceae
- Bloom Time: Summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, tree (large shrub)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Originating in China, Japan, Indochina, and the Himalayas, Crape Myrtle is botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica. It gets its common name as a reference to the appearance of its leaves, which look like tiny myrtles.
It’s a relatively small to medium tree that can grow to a maximum height of 25 feet and maximum width of 20 feet.
Crape Myrtle produces flowers from July till September, showing off blooms of brilliant colors including purple, lavender, mauve, red, burgundy, pale blue, pink, and white.
Crape Myrtle trees thrive in full sun and need moderately moist, well-drained soil. It doesn’t require fertilizer, but you’ll need to water it more often than most trees.
2. Lilac Bush
- Family: Oleaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Lilac Bush is native to eastern Europe and is known in the botanical scene as Syringa vulgaris.
It’s also called Lilac Tree or Lilac Plant, and it’s easy to tell how the plant got its name after one look at its bright clusters of lilac, purple, and lavender flowers. These blooms are also sweetly fragrant and effective in attracting butterflies.
Lilac Bush is a small-sized tree that can grow as tall as 15 feet and as wide as 12 feet.
These trees thrive in full sun and need rich, loamy, but well-drained soil. It requires yearly fertilization and pruning with moderate watering.
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3. Chaste Tree
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Botanically known as Vitex agnus-castus, the Chaste tree is indigenous to western and Mediterranean Asia. It gets its name from having anaphrodisiac effects, which reduce libido.
Other common names of this plant include Vitex, Chasteberry, Hemp tree, Cloister Pepper, and Monk’s Pepper.
The Chaste tree produces lovely clusters of violet, purple, and blue flowers with a sage-like scent. It’s said to have some medicinal benefits in alleviating pain associated with premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, and menopause.
Vitex is a small-sized tree that can grow as tall as 10 feet and spread as wide as 8 feet. It thrives in full sun and needs loose, well-drained soil.
It requires minimal fertilization and watering, so it’s ideal for numb thumbs.
4. Butterfly Bush
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Life Cycle: Perennial, deciduous, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Butterfly Bush originates from Asia and is referred to as Buddleja davidii in the botanical field. This plant gets its common name from its excellent ability to attract pollinators, mainly butterflies.
Some varieties of Butterfly Bush produce flowering spikes while others give large clusters of tiny blossoms. Their blooms come in shades of purple, violet, blue, pink, yellow, and white.
Butterfly Bush is a small-sized tree that can reach as tall as 12 feet and spread to a maximum width of 8 feet.
These trees are very easy to grow and care for. They aren’t only resistant to pests and stress, but also drought.
Butterfly Bush thrives in full sun and needs moist, well-drained soil. It doesn’t require fertilization or frequent watering.
5. Desert Willow
- Family: Bignoniaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Desert Willow is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States and is botanically known as Chilopsis linearis. This plant gets its common name from the appearance of its leaves which closely resemble willow leaves.
Desert Willow trees produce exotic, showy flowers that look like trumpets. They bloom in various shades of lilac, pink, magenta, violet, and purple.
Desert Willow is a small to medium-sized tree that can reach up to 18 feet tall and 18 feet wide. It’s great for luring in bees, butterflies, and birds.
They’re also one of the easiest to grow and maintain trees on our list. They do best in full sun and dry to medium moist, well-drained soil.
6. Black Locust
- Family: Fabaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, tree
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Black Locust is indigenous to the central and eastern United States. It’s botanically known as Robinia pseudoacacia and its common names include Pea Flower Locust, Common Locust, and False Acacia.
Black Locust trees produce showy, fragrant, and lipped-shaped flowers with fused petals. The pendant blooms come in beautiful shades of purple, violet, and white.
Black Locust is one of the largest trees on our list. It can grow up to 70 feet tall and 35 feet wide. This plant can attract bees, butterflies, and birds, but its bark, leaves, and seeds are highly poisonous to people and pets.
Black Locusts are resistant to drought, salt, and other harsh conditions. They thrive in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
7. Hibiscus Tree
- Family: Malvaceae
- Bloom Time: Summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Annual, perennial, herbaceous
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 11
Hibiscus is a large genus of flowering plants with hundreds of species, hybrids, and cultivars.
Today, we’re interested in the species Hibiscus syriacus, which originates in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Its common names include Rose of Sharon, Rose of China, and Shrub Althea.
Rose of Sharon is a relatively small tree with a maximum height of 12 feet and maximum width of 10 feet. It can attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and certain species of bees.
Rose of Sharon produces large, showy flowers with crepe-shaped petals. These blooms come in beautiful shades of purple, violet, pink, lavender, yellow, and white.
Hibiscus trees are resistant to heat and salt conditions. They thrive in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
8. Arabian Lilac
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Bloom Time: Summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Perennial, evergreen or semi-evergreen, small tree or shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Arabian Lilac is native to the coastal parts of tropical east Africa. It’s referred to as Vitex trifolia in the botanical scene and its common names include Coastal Vitex or Simple Leaf Chaste Tree.
Arabian Lilac is a medium-sized tree that can get as tall as 20 feet and as wide as 15 feet. It can attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and various other pollinators.
Arabian Lilac trees produce showy, fragrant blooms in the form of clusters of tiny. They possess lovely shades of purple, violet, and lilac.
Arabian Lilacs are easy to care for as they need little water and aren’t picky about soil type. They thrive in full sun with a fast growth rate.
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9. Glory Bush
- Family: Melastomataceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
- Life Cycle: Perennial, evergreen, shrub
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Glory Bush, botanically known as Tibouchina urvilleana, is indigenous to South America – particularly Brazil. It’s also called Princess Flower, which refers to the elegant and delicate appearance of the plant’s foliage and blooms.
Glory Bush trees develop tubular or saucer-shaped flowers with 4 or 5 petals. These blossoms come in shades of purple and lavender.
Glory Bush is on the smaller side of the tree spectrum, growing to a height of 8 feet and a width of 5 feet wide. They’re tolerant of drought and can handle salt conditions.
This tree does best in full sun as well as acidic, moist, but well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.
10. Jacaranda Tree
- Family: Bignoniaceae
- Bloom Time: Spring, fall
- Life Cycle: Deciduous, tree
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
The Jacaranda tree, botanically known as Jacaranda mimosifolia, has its origin in South America in the tropical regions of Argentina and Brazil. It’s also called Black Poui and Blue Jacaranda.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous tree that also provides shade, the Jacaranda tree is a terrific choice thanks to its arched branches that create an upturned umbrella-shaped canopy.
The Jacaranda tree is an impressively large plant that can stand as tall as 50 feet with a spread of 30 feet.
It produces clusters of scented blossoms that look like panicles, typically in purple and blue-purple shades. For example, Jacaranda jasminoides, and J. mimosifolia ‘Bonsai Blue’ varieties.
When it comes to maintenance, Jacaranda trees are mostly hassle-free. Additionally, they’re resistant to disease, pests, and drought.
Jacaranda trees thrive in full sun and sandy, well-drained soil. They do best with consistent watering and annual fertilization.
Interestingly, Jacaranda trees can live for an average of 50 years. But with good care, it can persist up to 2 centuries, so your grand, grand, grandkids can witness what you planted!
Wrap Up
There you have it, 10 purple flowers that grow on trees.
Any of these beauties is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to dazzle up the landscape in your property with some regal and mysterious elegance.
The best part? These trees are easy to grow and maintain.