What Types of Trees Have Purple Flowers?

Every spring, flowers bloom in flower garden beds, containers, on bushes and on trees throughout the country. If you chose a garden scheme that primarily features shades of purple annual and perennial flowers, you can continue the color scheme with your choice of trees. Purple flowering trees lend beauty, fragrance and shade to the home landscape.

Purple Orchid-Tree (Bauhinia purpurea), a rapidly growing tree suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zones 9b to 11, can grow to a height of 30 to 35 feet, with a similar spread, according to the University of Florida. The Purple Orchid-tree's canopy is rounded, symmetrical and supported by a smooth, slender trunk. Lavender, pink or purple flowers bloom along the arched branches from September until November. The fragrant flowers grow up to 5 inches wide, and they resemble orchids. Seed pods emerge from the flowers during the fall and remain throughout the winter months. The pods are typically 12 inches long, brown, flat and slender. This purple flowering tree thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade. It tolerates most soil types but requires well-drained soil. Once established, the Purple Orchid-tree is drought tolerant.

Royal Purple Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria "Royal Purple"), a slow-growing tree that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 8b, can grow to a height ranging from 12 to 15 feet, with a width ranging from 10 to 18 feet, reports the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Under ideal conditions, this small tree can grow to a height of 20 feet. The Royal Purple Smoketree's canopy is rounded and symmetrical. Red and purple flower blooms emerge during the late spring or start of summer. The wispy flowers look like a cloud of smoke clinging to the tree. The deep purple, deciduous leaves turn reddish purple in the fall. This purple flowering tree requires full sun. The Royal Purple Smoketree thrives in well-drained, acidic, alkaline, clay, loamy or sandy soils. Once established, the tree is drought tolerant.

Purple Robe, a cultivar of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), is a fast-growing tree suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8. Purple Robe can grow to a height ranging from 30 to 50 feet and have a width ranging from 20 to 35 feet, according to the University of Florida. The oval-shaped crown is irregular. Thick clusters of highly fragrant, 1-inch lavender blooms cover the dense canopy for 10 days late in the spring. Leathery, black or dark red seed pods follow the flowers. The 2- to 4-inch-long seed pods remain on the tree throughout the winter. Purple Robe requires full sun. This purple flowering tree thrives in well-drained, acidic, alkaline, clay, loamy or sandy soils. Once established, the tree is highly drought tolerant.