What Are Those Purple Flowering Trees—Native Redbud or Invasive Paulownia? (2024)
Are you seeing signs of spring? After the bold yellow forsythia blooms, purple-flowering trees will soon brighten our yards and hillsides. What are those lovely trees? In March and April in Western North Carolina, these are most likely the native eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis). By late April or May, you’ll see larger purple flowers on the invasive Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa).
About Redbuds The eastern redbud is a small deciduous tree—15 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide—native to North America, ranging as far north as Canada, south as Florida, and west to Texas.
The pink to reddish-purple flowers emerge in early spring on old branches and trunks, before the leaves. After blooming, the heart-shaped leaves emerge and mature to a dark green, turning yellow to yellowish orange by fall. The trees produce clusters of green seed pods that look similar to snow peas, but brown when mature.
In the wild, eastern redbud occurs as an understory tree, preferring moist, well-drained soil, but adaptable to a range of soil conditions, and hardy from USDA zones 4 to 9. The trees will tolerate full sun and both alkaline and acidic soils. In WNC, the trees are usually more numerous on south-facing slopes with more sunlight. They are fire-tolerant and will sprout back from the roots after a fire.
Uses Redbud nectar attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Pollen feeds honeybees. Birds and squirrels may feed on the seeds. Redbuds are in the pea family—their edible flowers taste like peas, making them a colorful and tasty addition to a spring salad—but only if the trees are untreated with pesticides. Some Native Americans and folk healers use the bark and roots to produce teas and tinctures to treat various ailments.
Diseases and Pests These beautiful trees are usually free of serious disease and pests, but are relatively short-lived, typically declining from disease after twenty years. The most common culprit is the fungal disease, Botryosphaeria canker, which can encircle the branches, effectively cutting off the water supply to the leaves, leading to branch drop. Keep plants as healthy as possible by watering regularly during dry periods and pruning out diseased branches with disinfected tools. Verticillium wilt, another serious fungal disease, blocks the tree’s vascular system from taking up water and nutrients.Leaf anthracnose and other leaf spot diseases may affect the tree’s appearance but not its overall health.
Insects that feed on redbuds include treehoppers, caterpillars, scales, and leafhoppers. For serious infestations, contact your local Extension office for treatment options.
Cultivars Eastern redbuds are lovely native trees that are valued in our landscapes. Several redbud varieties are available. Check out some of these selections to see what strikes your fancy.
‘Alba’ (white flowers) ‘Appalachian Red’ (hot pink flowers) ‘Covey’ (dwarf weeping habit) ‘Flame’ (double flowers, seedless) ‘Forest Pansy’ (purple foliage, pink flowers) ‘Ruby Falls’ (purple foliage, weeping habit) ‘Silver Cloud’ (variegated green and white foliage) ‘Hearts of Gold’ (golden foliage)
Avoid the Paulownia! The Paulownia or Princess tree also blooms in spring with panicles of purple flowers. Paulownia was introduced in the mid-1800s as an ornamental landscape plant. It is now considered an ecological hazard, especially to Linville Gorge and along I-40 near the Tennessee state border. Princess trees are invasive everywhere in our area and are not recommended as landscape plants. Eliminate volunteers before they establish.
Article written by Barbara Hayes, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.
Paulownia is considered an exotic invasive plant, and can easily outcompete native trees, and in sufficient numbers negatively impact forest ecosystems. The Paulownia tree roadside. The late April flowers bloom before the leaves come out and can turn the entire top of the tree purple.
The roots of the Eastern Redbud can be contained in small spaces, and are not large and invasive. So, the Redbud is a good choice for a flowering tree in parking lots, along streets, and near sidewalks.
What is that tree blooming on the side of the highway? The one with light purple flowers that look like Wisteria, except the panicle points up rather than hanging down. This is Paulownia tomentosa, often seen in cheap looking ads from mail order nurseries called the Empress tree or Princess tree.
Catawba rhododendron have brilliant pink/purple flowers. They begin blooming in early June at elevations above 3,500 feet and will continue to reach their peak at higher elevations as the month wears on.
The cherry blossoms that have made Washington, D.C. even more of a tourist hotspot have finally met their West Coast counterpart—purple jacaranda mimosifolia trees. They've just started to bloom in Southern California, and the spectacular sight will give you flower fever.
What is the Tree of Heaven? The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China that has become a widespread invasive species across North America.
On the downside, Redbud trees have a short lifespan, are susceptible to pests, require a lot of water, are prone to certain diseases, are brittle, and can be messy.
In fact, the redbud is so indispensable to these valuable animals some experts rate it as one of our top 10 most important native flowering trees. The high rating stems from the species' ability to provide these insects with an abundant supply of nectar and pollen when both are often hard to find elsewhere.
Small trees such as dogwood, redbud, hawthorn or crab may be planted 15 to 20 feet apart and no closer than 8 feet from the house when used as an accent or corner planting.
There are at least 49 known varieties of jacaranda trees, but the one most likely to fill your Instagram feed is Jacaranda mimosifolia. It produces a vibrant show of purple flowers in late spring. It's native to northwestern Argentina and Bolivia but can be found in tropical and subtropic regions worldwide.
Purple-leaf plum trees, also called cherry plum trees or flowering plum trees, can add interest to your yard or garden with their dark red to purple foliage and abundance of white to light pink spring blossoms. Purple-leaf plums are medium-sized, deciduous trees primarily used for ornamental purposes.
Peltogyne, commonly known as purpleheart, violet wood, amaranth and other local names (often referencing the colour of the wood) is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae; native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America; from Guerrero, Mexico, through Central America, and as far as ...
The Purple Robe Locust is a large flowering tree with reddish-green leaves. They grow around 40 feet tall and bloom in early summer, producing fragrant, purple, wisteria-like flowers in the spring. The Purple Robe Locust Tree grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8, and it likes full sun and rich soils.
Jacaranda, also known as black poui, is one of the botanical treasures of Central and South Florida. Its graceful, feathery branches and purple blooms make it a show-stopping specimen plant. Like hibiscus and royal poinciana, jacaranda brings a lush, tropical flair to any landscape.
The eastern redbud is a small deciduous tree—15 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide—native to North America, ranging as far north as Canada, south as Florida, and west to Texas. The pink to reddish-purple flowers emerge in early spring on old branches and trunks, before the leaves.
Probably the most well-known of the morning-blooming are plants from the morning glory family (Ipomoea, Convolulus or Evolvulus spp.). The dwarf morning glory (Evolvulus alsinoides), hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11, has tiny lavender flowers barely half an inch in width.
These include willow trees, poplars, cottonwoods, aspens, silver maples, Norway maples, and American elm trees, among others. Smaller trees with shallow roots, however, pose little risk to your home. Japanese maple trees, for instance, are safe to plant relatively close to your house.
The ideal exposure for your redbud is 4 to 8 hours of sunlight every day, with some protection from the bright afternoon sun. Keep a minimum of 6 to 8 feet distance between any structures and the planting site, and a minimum of 3 feet from fences.
Gathered below the tree in winter, the leaves maintain their shape and are a light orange-brown color. Eastern redbud is alternately branched with slender, zig-zagging twigs that are dark reddish-brown scattered with several tiny, light-colored lenticels.Older sections of branches are more grey in color.
The bark is dark colored, smooth and later becomes scaly with ridges. Life span: When healthy, the redbud tree should live from 50 to 70 years. However, with certain pathogens, particularly verticilliim wilt, a wilt disease caused by fungi, and trunk cancer can significantly decrease its lifespan.
Eastern redbud develops a deep taproot that grows quickly the first few years under conducive conditions. Because of that deep taproot, they do not transplant well and should be planted where they will stay. Pruning the tree helps develop a strong structure.
Although redbud is a tree natively grown in the understory of woodlands, it is not the favorite food source for all wildlife; squirrels and songbirds will sometimes eat the seed.
The roots and inner bark were utilized for fevers, congestion, and even vomiting. In Appalachia, they refer to them as "spice tree" and use the twigs and flowers in tea and fry the flowers to eat. Redbud wood is used in different woodworking applications like gunstocks, decorative bowls, knife handles, and veneer.
Redbuds frequently have low branches when they are young. Take off one or two of the lowest branches each year as it grows until you are satisfied with the shape and branching structure. Pruning the branches when they are still small is more desirable than taking off larger diameter ones.
Very young trees generally have underdeveloped root systems, so planting holes will rarely be more than 1 foot deep by 2 feet wide. A good rule of thumb is to prepare a hole that is at least as wide and two times as deep as the root ball.
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of many songbird species that are attracted to the bright pink flowers of the eastern redbud. Native to eastern North America, the redbud is a small tree that blooms profusely in early spring.
The award-winning 'Royal Purple' smoketree is a large shrub or small tree with a compact growth habit and showy purple leaves in the Anacardiaceae (cashew or poison ivy) family. It was introduced into the United States in 1953, originating in Boskoop, Holland.
The definition of Jacaranda is “fragrant”, which can give you a tip of why it's one of our favorite flowering trees for Southern California. Glorious displays of purple-blue, fragrant panicles cover the canopy of the Jacaranda tree in late spring.
Also known as European beech or purple beech, the copper beech (fa*gus sylvatica purpurea) is a large, deciduous shade tree that graces many yards in central New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It's known for its beautiful burgundy foliage that turns a lovely shade of copper in fall.
Vitex. This stunning multi-trunk tree is a favorite for its unique purple blooms on long spikes that form at every growth tip during the late spring and into the summer. The flowering spikes on the Vitex (agnus-castus) are a favorite for our pollinating friends like hummingbirds and butterflies.
In fact, Crimson King Maples are known for their striking, rich purple foliage in colder climates, too, and are one of the few trees to give you excellent color in the Northern states. And it doesn't matter what soil you plant your trees in because your Crimson King Maples will give you beautiful color anywhere.
What does tree-of-heaven look like? This is a fast-growing tree that typically grows into a large tree between 45 and 60 feet tall with a wide-spread crown that has multiple branches. Long, compound leaves (between 11 and 31 leaflets per leaf) are dark green above and pale green below.
When it comes to small, purple leafed trees, one species stands out. That is the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), a showy little maple tree species with lacy, deeply lobed leaves. With hundreds of cultivars on the market, more than a few offer purple leaves all season long, like 'Bloodgood.
Purple oxalis has large, triangular leaves of deep purple. Its nearly 1-inch flowers range in color from pink to lilac. Though the purple oxalis is tough, it is not invasive like the ones you have been trying to kill. The purple oxalis is from South America and is a true garden asset.
One of the most well-known invasive plant species is the Jacaranda tree, which has become common – and quite iconic – in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Jacarandas are a category 1b invasive species and compete with and replace indigenous species.
Phacelia is used in the UK as a brood rearing crop. Its purple flowers have the tremendous ability to attract a large array of insects. In the summer you can hear a crop of phacelia buzzing.
Oxalis flowers and produces seeds heavily in the spring and summer but can produce both all year long. Small plants can easily be handpicked or dug as they appear before they flower or form seeds. Removal of all vegetative portions of the plant, including roots and rhizomes, is important.
Oxalis can be removed by hand or dug up using a hoe or spade. To prevent spreading seed throughout your lawn, plants should be removed while they're still young and developing, before the flowers and seed capsules form. The entire root system must be removed or the plant will grow back from any pieces left in the soil.
Oxalis can be a very difficult weed to kill in most lawn types. It is highly resistant to weak herbicide products, such as Weed and Feed types of weed killers, making it a difficult weed type to control.
Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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