Flowering Trees are one of my favorite markers of Spring arriving and some of my favorites in Texas are trees with purple flowers.
There’s a good variety that can grow in Texas since the state covers USDA Hardiness zones 7a through 10b.
There’s also a wide range of the shades of purple blossoms you can find.
From fuschia pink-purple, to dark purple bleeding into red, and light lavender.
Keep reading to see a variety of purple flowering trees in Texas.
8 Trees in Texas with Beautiful Purple Blooms
1. Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Texas Mountain Laurel trees are one of the most stunning native Texas trees that can be found both growing in the wild or in landscaping.
Although, it is a rare native species and is considered a Texas treasure to be found!
It’s an incredible flowering tree with large, cascading purple flowers.
Their flowers can be several inches long and have multiple layers of petals, one following the other like a waterfall of purple petals!
Their flowers can have a violet-blue tint and are said to smell like grape flavoring!
Hopefully you like that smell because you can enjoy these beautiful flowers for weeks.
This sight is even more beautiful in contrast to the bright evergreen leaves and blackish-brown bark.
Texas Mountain Laurel trees grow really well in limestone soil, so they thrive in central and eastern TX. Although, they can be found growing in western TX as well.
- Other Common Names: Mescalbean, Mountain Laurel, Mescal Bean Sophora, Frijolillo, Frijolito
- Growing Zones: 7-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 15-25 ft tall by 8-10 ft wide
- Season: Spring
2. Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus var. ‘atropurpureus’)
In contrast to the showy flowers of Texas Mountain Laurels, Eastern Wahoo’s flowers are more modest.
In Spring these trees bloom with delicate little maroon-purple flowers that dangle from the tree’s branches like earrings.
The flowers are quite small but bloom in clusters of 10 to 20 flowers, so they’re more noticeable closer up.
The flowers remain on the tree for about one month before dropping.
After the flowers are gone, the tree begins to fruit in the form of seed capsules- that are also purple!
At first, the capsules are light purple or pink, then they darken to a crimson color and split open, revealing seeds that are also dark red.
These trees are loved for being colorful all year long.
Along with reddish purple flowers and seeds, Eastern Wahoo trees produce berries in the fall that are maroon red.
- Other Common Names: Burning Bush, Wahoo, Waahoo, Spindle Tree
- Growing Zones: 3-7
- Average Size at Maturity: 12-20 ft tall by 15-25 ft wide
- Season: Spring- Summer, May to June
3. Mexican Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana)
Similar to the flowers on many fruit trees, Mexican Redbud flowers bloom all over the tree and cover it in a fluff of flowers.
The flowers are quite small but they bloom in large clusters and are very showy.
Mexican Redbud flowers- and the flowers of all Cercis canadensis varieties- are completely edible and are usually eaten in salads or pickled!
However, the seed pods that develop after the flowers contain seeds that are toxic when eaten.
Redbud trees are small trees, only reaching 20 feet tall at most, so they’re a great choice if you don’t have much space.
Also, they grow like large shrubs and can be pruned to be more shrub-like if that’s your preference!
Because of their size and flowers, Mexican Redbud trees are common in Texas landscaping.
As the name suggests, Mexican Redbuds are native to the rocky hillsides of southwestern Texas and northern Mexico.
- Other Common Names: Mexicana Redbud
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 15-20 ft wide
4. Desert Willow Tree (Chilopsis linearis)
Desert Willows are another beautiful Texas native, these being native to southern U.S. and northern Mexico. They thrive in the dry, desert conditions of western Texas, which is how they got their name.
Desert Willows have large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are bright fuschia colored, they often look similar to some of the purple varieties of Magnolia trees that grow in Texas.
Their colors can vary from light pink, deep magenta, to violet. These flowers are quite large and have a strong, sweet fragrance. They bloom in large clusters at the ends of the branches.
These trees bloom in late Spring and last on the tree until fall, so they can be enjoyed all Summer long!
A little tip: watering the tree throughout the summer, especially when lacking rain, will help the flowers last.
Along with beautiful flowers, their scent attracts lots of bumblebees and hummingbirds!
If the flowers aren’t convincing enough, it helps that these trees are super easy to grow. They’re highly adaptable, drought resistant, and fast growing.
- Other Common Names: Flowering Willow, Willowleaf Catalpa, Desert Catalpa, Flor de Mimbre, Mimbre, Bow Willow, Jano, False Willow
- Growing Zones: 7-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 15-30 ft tall by 10-20 ft wide
- Season: Spring, April to May
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Chaste trees are also super popular for landscaping in Texas and throughout the southern U.S. because of their unmistakable flowers.
Chaste trees blossom with large cones of little lilac flowers that make the tree look as if it’s covered with purple, flowery spikes!
They’re also very popular because their flowers bloom in the summer. In mid summer these trees are coated in purple while most other trees have already dropped their flowers.
And, once they bloom these flowers typically stay on the tree for the next few months.
One more benefit to these trees is that they attract loads of pollinators! Bumblebees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are known to flock once the flowers come out.
These trees are fairly small and that makes them easy to plant for landscaping, regardless of how much space you have. They’re also super easy to grow!
Chaste trees have a high heat tolerance, are resistant to diseases, and grow fast in full sun.
- Other Common Names: Monk’s Pepper Tree, Hemp Tree, Chasteberry, Lilac Chaste Tree
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 4-15 ft tall by 4-12 ft wide
- Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Purpurea’)
You’ve probably already heard of Crape Myrtles, especially if you’ve lived in the south for a few years.
They’re an iconic landscaping plant because they’re so bodacious, so they can be found in landscapes all over the southern states.
These bushes can grow to be big and strong but are nonetheless very easy to take care of.
Crape Myrtles are heat tolerant and thrive in full sun. They’re also drought tolerant after the first few months of consistent watering.
Plus they’re highly disease, pest, and deer resistant.
But the flowers are really the reason why you want to grow Crape Myrtles. Once in bloom, Crape Myrtles boast huge bushels of flowers that cover the ends of the branches.
The flowers are quite small but together their ruffled petals form fluffy bushes of flowers.
They blossom in early summer, but if the fresh blooms are cut then they’ll rebloom at the end of summer!
- Other Common Names: Purple Magic, Early Bird Lavender, Early Bird Purple, Infinitini Purple
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 6-10 ft tall by 6-10 ft wide
- Season: Summer
Available at: Nature Hills
7. Texas Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)
This tree gets its name from its smoky, dusk pink and faded purple flowers that make the tree seem in a cloud of smoke.
The flowers are small but grow in large clusters that cover the whole tree and the merging of all these flowers gives it a hazy look.
Smoke Tree flowers blossom in late Spring but last on the tree until early Fall.
This makes the tree a great option in landscaping as a background amidst the changing Spring and Summer landscape.
Texas Smoke Tree leaves are also extremely ornamental. In the Spring when they first emerge, they are light pink and blend with the flowers.
However, as the seasons pass the leaves turn more green then develop a blue tint. Finally, in Fall, they become dark orange and red before they drop.
Texas Smoke Tree is native to central TX since it grows best in limestone soil.
- Other Common Names: American Smoke Tree, Wild Smoke Tree, Smoke Tree, Smoke Bush, Chittamwood
- Growing Zones: 4-8
- Average Size at Maturity: 25- 30 ft tall by 20-30 ft wide
- Season: Spring
Available at: Nature Hills
8. Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum sanctum)
The name Lignum Vitae means “Tree of Life” in Latin, despite the tree actually being native to Mexico!
This is partially because of this tree’s incredible looks but also its medicinal benefits!
The resin from these trees has been used for treating arthritis, skin conditions, throat issues, and various other problems.
But even if you just want to grow a beautiful tree for landscaping, Lignum Vitae trees are a great choice!
However, they’re native to more arid and semi-tropical climates so they’ll only grow well in southern TX.
Lignum Vitae trees have small, lilac-colored flowers that fade to white. The flowers bloom in large groups, however the blossoming appears more like a surge in flowers.
That’s because the flowers stay on the trees all year long!
There’s a peak in Spring with new flowers, but these emerge against the remaining flowers from the previous year.
- Other Common Names: Holywood, Holywood Lignum-vitae
- Growing Zones: 10-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 10-30 ft tall by 8-12 ft wide
- Season: Spring
Comparing Texas Purple Flowering Tree Varieties
| Variety | Description | Growing Zones | Average Size at Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Mountain Laurel | A native Texas tree with large, cascading purple flowers that smell like grape flavoring. | 7-10 | 15-25 ft tall x 8-10 ft wide |
| Eastern Wahoo | This tree blooms with modest maroon-purple flowers in Spring, followed by purple seed capsules. | 3-7 | 12-20 ft tall x 15-25 ft wide |
| Mexican Redbud | Known for its showy, small, pinkish-purple flowers that cover the tree. | 5-9 | 15-20 ft tall x 15-20 ft wide |
| Desert Willow | Its flowers last from late Spring to Fall, especially with summer watering. | 7-11 | 15-30 ft tall x 10-20 ft wide |
| Chaste Tree | Recognizable for its large cones of small lilac flowers forming purple spikes. | 6-9 | 4-15 ft tall x 4-12 ft wide |
| Crape Myrtle | Widely known for its large bushels of small, ruffled, purple flowers. | 6-9 | 6-10 ft tall x 6-10 ft wide |
| Texas Smoke Tree | Named for its smoky appearance due to dusky pink and faded purple flowers. | 4-8 | 25-30 ft tall x 20-30 ft wide |
| Lignum Vitae | The flowers stay on the tree all year, with a surge of new flowers in Spring. | 10-11 | 10-30 ft tall x 8-12 ft wide |
Growing a Purple Rain of Flowers
I hope this article gave you some ideas about beautiful flowering trees that can give a pop of purple to your yard!
Purple is a very common color for flowers, so you can easily complement these trees with purple flower beds or bushes.
There’s also a wide variety of pink flowering trees that can grow alongside these purple blossoms. Thankfully, the world has a lot of flowering trees to offer!
With such a range of climates, growing needs, and looks, there’s certainly a tree that will fit your needs.
Along with their amazing looks, flowering trees are a way to have flowers blooming year after year, instead of planting flower beds every year!
There are many reasons to grow flowering trees and I hope this article has given you the inspiration to begin caring for one!
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