Tree With Purple Flowers That Look Like Wisteria

If you’re looking for a tree with purple flowers that look like wisteria, you’ve found the perfect guide. That stunning vision of gracefully draping purple blossoms is achievable in your own garden, and we’re here to show you exactly how to make it happen.

These trees create an unforgettable display each spring. Their cascading blooms bring a sense of romance and elegance to any landscape. Let’s identify the best candidates and learn how to care for them.

Several trees can give you that iconic wisteria look. The key feature is the raceme—a long, hanging cluster of individual flowers. While true wisteria is a vigorous vine, these trees offer a similar beauty in a more manageable, woody form.

The most famous example is the Japanese flowering cherry, specifically the ‘Shidare-Yoshino’ or ‘Cheal’s Weeping’ variety. Its branches drip with soft pink or white blossoms. But for purple, we need to look at a few other spectacular options.

Top Tree Choices for Purple Cascading Blooms

Here are the best trees to plant for that wisteria-like effect in shades of purple, lavender, and violet.

Eastern Redbud ‘Forest Pansy’ (Cercis canadensis): This is a superstar. Before its heart-shaped leaves appear, its branches are covered in tiny, pea-like purple-pink flowers. While not long racemes, the sheer density creates a dripping effect. The new foliage is a stunning deep purple too.
Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora): A tough evergreen for warm climates. In late winter, it produces 3- to 7-inch long clusters of fragrant, violet-blue flowers that closely resemble wisteria. The scent is often compared to grape soda.
Purple Robe Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Purple Robe’): This fast-growing tree boasts 4- to 8-inch long chains of vibrant, deep purple pea flowers in late spring. The foliage is bronzy-red when young, adding to its appeal.
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis): Not a true willow, but its graceful, weeping form and trumpet-shaped flowers are magnificent. Cultivars like ‘Burgundy’ produce rich, dark purple blooms in long, elegant clusters all summer long.
Royal Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria): The flower panicles are wispy and cloud-like, creating a “smoke” effect. From a distance, the mass of purple-pink blooms on this large shrub or small tree can look like a soft, draping purple veil.

How to Choose the Right Tree for Your Garden

Picking the perfect tree involves more than just flower color. You need to consider your local conditions to ensure the tree thrives.

Check Your Hardiness Zone: A Texas Mountain Laurel won’t survive a Minnesota winter. Verify your USDA zone and choose a tree rated for it.
Sunlight Needs: Almost all flowering trees need full sun—at least 6 hours of direct light daily—to bloom their best.
Mature Size: Measure your space. Consider the tree’s height and spread at maturity to avoid future conflicts with power lines or structures.
Soil Type: Some trees, like Redbuds, prefer well-drained soil. Others, like certain cherries, tolerate heavier clay. Do a quick soil test.

Assessing Your Planting Site

Take a weekend to really observe your potential planting site. Note where the sun hits at different times of day. Check for underground utilities by calling 811 before you dig. Look up—are there overhead wires? Planning ahead saves major headaches later.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Proper planting is the most important step for a long-lived, healthy tree. Follow these steps carefully.

Dig the Hole: Dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the tree’s root ball. The depth should be exactly the height of the root ball. The hole should not be deeper, as settling can cause the tree to sink.
Prepare the Root Ball: Gently remove the tree from its container. If roots are circling tightly, score the sides with a knife or tease them apart with your fingers to encourage outward growth.
Position the Tree: Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the top of the root flare (where the roots begin to spread) is slightly above the surrounding soil level.
Backfill: Use the native soil you dug out to backfill the hole. Gently tamp it down to remove large air pockets. Avoid amending the soil with too much compost, as this can discourage roots from expanding into native soil.
Water Deeply: Create a shallow berm of soil around the planting hole to form a water basin. Fill this basin with water, let it drain, and fill it again. This settles the soil.
Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch (like wood chips) in a wide circle around the tree. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself to prevent rot.

Essential Care and Maintenance

Once planted, your tree needs consistent care, especially in its first few years. This is what ensures those gorgeous purple blooms return every season.

Watering Schedule

Consistent moisture is key for establishment. For the first two years, water deeply once a week unless rainfall is abundant. A soaker hose left on for an hour is better than a quick sprinkle. After establishment, most of these trees are quite drought-tolerant, but they’ll bloom better with occasional deep watering during dry spells.

Fertilizing for Optimal Blooms

Too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, can promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers. In most cases, if you have decent soil, heavy feeding isn’t necessary.

Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
Alternatively, top-dress with compost or well-rotted manure around the root zone each spring.
Always water thoroughly after applying any fertilizer.

Pruning Techniques

Pruning is done to maintain health, shape, and encourage flowering. The timing is crucial.

When to Prune: For spring-flowering trees, prune immediately after the blooms fade. They set their flower buds on old wood the previous summer. Pruning in fall or winter would remove next year’s flowers.
How to Prune: Start by removing the three D’s: Dead, Diseased, or Damaged wood. Then, remove any crossing or rubbing branches. To maintain a weeping form, selectively prune any upward-growing branches back to a side branch that hangs down.
Tool Care: Always use sharp, clean pruning tools. Wipe blades with rubbing alcohol between cuts if you suspect disease to prevent spreading it.

Common Pests and Problems

Even the healthiest tree can face issues. Early identification is the key to easy management.

Aphids: These tiny sap-suckers can cluster on new growth. A strong blast of water from the hose often knocks them off. Ladybugs are a natural predator.
Borer Insects: Look for small holes in the trunk and sawdust-like frass. Keeping your tree healthy and unstressed is the best prevention. Consult an arborist if you suspect borers.
Powdery Mildew: A white, powdery fungus on leaves. It’s often cosmetic. Improve air circulation by pruning and avoid overhead watering in the evening.
Leaf Spot: Fungal or bacterial spots on foliage. Rake and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn to reduce spores overwintering in the soil.

Preventing Disease

Good cultural practices prevent most problems. Ensure proper spacing for air flow, water at the base of the tree (not the leaves), and avoid injuring the trunk with lawn mowers or trimmers. A healthy tree can naturally fend off many pests and dieseases.

Propagating Your Purple Flowering Tree

If you want to create more of your beautiful tree, propagation is an option. The success rate varies by species.

Softwood Cuttings: In late spring or early summer, take a 4-6 inch cutting from new, flexible growth. Remove the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant in a pot with a moist, soilless mix. Cover with a plastic bag to retain humidity until roots form.
Seed Propagation: Collect seeds in fall after pods dry. Many tree seeds require a period of cold stratification (mimicking winter) to germinate. Research the specific needs for your tree type.
Grafting: This is a more advanced technique often used for named cultivars like ‘Forest Pansy’ or ‘Purple Robe.’ It involves joining a piece of the desired tree (the scion) onto a hardy rootstock.

Landscaping Design Ideas

These trees are versatile focal points. Here’s how to showcase them in your garden design.

Solitary Specimen: Plant one as a standalone focal point in the middle of a lawn or at the end of a path. This allows its full, graceful form to be appreciated from all sides.
Near Water Features: The reflection of the draping purple blossoms in a pond or stream doubles the visual impact. The weeping form complements the fluidity of water.
Entryway Accent: Frame your front door or garden gate with a pair of these trees. It creates a welcoming, majestic entrance.
Mixed Borders: Plant one in the back of a perennial border. The purple flowers pair beautifully with yellow companions (like coreopsis or yarrow) or silver foliage plants (like artemisia or lamb’s ear).

Companion Plants

Choose plants that complement but don’t compete. Spring bulbs like daffodils or crocus bloom at the tree’s base before it leafs out. Shade-tolerant hostas or ferns can grow underneath once the canopy fills in. Avoid aggressive groundcovers that might fight for water and nutrients.

Seasonal Care Calendar

A quick-reference guide to keep your tree on track all year.

Early Spring: Apply mulch. Fertilize if needed. Plant new trees.
Late Spring: Enjoy the bloom! Prune immediately after flowering. Monitor for pests.
Summer: Water deeply during dry periods. Weed the root zone.
Fall: Rake and dispose of fallen leaves to reduce disease. This is also a good time for planting in many climates, as roots can establish in cool soil.
Winter: While dormant, you can do structural pruning on deciduous trees (except spring bloomers). Protect young tree trunks from rodent damage with a guard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the fastest growing tree with draping purple flowers?
The Purple Robe Locust is known for its rapid growth, often adding 3 feet or more per year. Desert Willow also grows quite quickly in warm climates.

Are there any small or dwarf varieties?
Yes. The Eastern Redbud has a smaller cultivar called ‘Ace of Hearts.’ The weeping variety of the ‘Royal Purple’ Smoke Tree can be kept quite compact with pruning. Always check the mature size listed for the specific cultivar.

Why is my tree not blooming?
Common reasons include: not enough sunlight (the #1 cause), pruning at the wrong time (removing flower buds), excessive nitrogen fertilizer, or the tree is still too young and establishing its roots. Patience is sometimes required.

How do I get more of the gracefully draping purple blossoms?
Ensure full sun, proper watering, and use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus (the middle number) content to promote blooming. Correct pruning after flowering is also essential.

Can I grow these in containers?
Some smaller varieties can be grown in large, sturdy pots for many years. Use a high-quality potting mix and ensure the container has excellent drainage. You will need to water and fertilize more frequently than a tree in the ground.

What tree has purple flowers that hang down like wisteria?
As discussed, the Texas Mountain Laurel and Purple Robe Locust have the most similar long, hanging clusters. The Eastern Redbud provides a more subtle, covering effect of purple blooms.

Adding a tree with cascading purple flowers is a long-term investment in your garden’s beauty. With the right selection, planting, and care, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking spring spectacle for decades to come. The key is matching the tree to your site and providing consistent care, especially in the beginning. Before you know it, your landscape will be transformed by those graceful, draping purple blossoms you’ve always wanted.