The sudden appearance of vibrant purple or magenta blossoms is a striking sight across Virginia’s landscape, signaling the transition from winter to warmer seasons. These flashes of color belong to a few distinct species, each with its own bloom time and characteristic appearance. The trees responsible range from beloved native species to highly visible non-native introductions, each adding a unique hue to the state’s seasonal palette.
The Signature Spring Tree: Eastern Redbud
The most recognized purple-flowering tree in Virginia’s early spring is the native Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). This small, deciduous understory tree is typically one of the first woody plants to flower, creating a delicate pink to magenta haze along woodland edges. Its showy, pea-like flowers emerge directly from the bare branches, and even the trunk, in a unique phenomenon known as cauliflory. The blossoms arrive in late March or early April, well before the leaves expand, and last for approximately two to three weeks.
The sheer volume of blossoms creates a distinct purple impression from a distance. After the blooms fade, the Redbud is easily identified by its perfectly heart-shaped leaves, which are initially a shiny bronze color. The tree reaches a mature height of about 15 to 30 feet and its slender twigs feature a distinctive zigzag pattern. As a native species, the Eastern Redbud is ecologically valuable, serving as an important early source of nectar and pollen for emerging pollinators.
The Highly Visible, Non-Native Competitor: Empress Tree
A later-blooming, non-native tree that often draws attention is the Empress Tree, or Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa). This rapid-growing ornamental can reach heights of 50 feet or more. Its flowers are pale violet to pinkish-purple, trumpet-shaped, and appear in large, upright clusters up to 14 inches long in late April or early May. The vanilla-scented blooms emerge before the tree fully leafs out, increasing their visibility.
The Empress Tree is easily identifiable by its enormous, velvety, heart-shaped leaves, which can grow to be 5 to 12 inches across. Unlike the Redbud, the Empress Tree is considered invasive in Virginia due to its aggressive growth and prolific seed production. A single mature tree can produce millions of small, winged seeds. The tree’s persistent woody brown seed capsules remain on the branches throughout the winter, which is another distinguishing feature.
Mid-to-Late Season Purple Bloomers
Beyond the spring, purple blooms continue to appear on other species, most notably the Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and the Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus). The Crapemyrtle, a ubiquitous landscape plant in Virginia, comes in many varieties that offer deep purple or lavender flowers. These varieties provide large, striking clusters of flowers that bloom profusely from mid-summer through early fall, extending the purple display well into the hot months.
The Chaste Tree also contributes to the summer purple display, typically blooming from late spring through September. Often grown as a multi-stemmed large shrub or trained into a small tree, the species reaches heights of 15 to 25 feet. Its lightly fragrant flowers appear on long, upright spikes in shades of lilac-purple or blue. The Chaste Tree’s palmately compound, gray-green foliage is distinctly different from the heart-shaped leaves of the spring bloomers.
Finally, the Wisteria vine, while not a true tree, is often trained into a small, upright form with a thick trunk. Its dramatic, drooping clusters of blue-purple flowers bloom from spring into early summer, creating a unique weeping appearance. Unlike the other species, its flowers form long, pendulous racemes, distinguishing its habit from the upright spikes and clustered blossoms of the other trees.