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Search Results for: what are the purple flowered trees

What are the purple-flowered trees?

May 7, 2013

This is the time of year when people ask what are the purple flowered trees  “we see along the highway?”

There are two possibilities, the most likely being the Princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa. The other possibility is Oriental Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis.

Wisteria sinensis
Wisteria sinensis

 

Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia tomentosa

Native to China, the Paulownia tomentosa  (common name being princess tree or empress tree)  is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that is primarily grown for its profuse spring bloom of foxglove-like flowers and its large catalpa-like green leaves. It was first introduced into the United States in the mid 1800s, and has since escaped cultivation and naturalized in many areas of the eastern U.S.   It is an upright to spreading deciduous tree that typically grows to 40’ tall with a rounded crown.    It is noted for its profuse bloom of fragrant, tubular, funnel-shaped, pinkish-lavender flowers (to 2” long) with interior dark purple spotting and creamy yellow striping.   Flowers appear in spring in clusters (to 14” long) before the foliage.   Flowers are followed by oval, woody, dehiscent seed capsules that emerge sticky green and ripen to brown in fall, at which point they split open releasing abundant, very light winged seeds that are widely dispersed by the wind, which is why we see them growing high on the cliffs in the rocky gorge of Interstate 40 west toward Tennessee, for example.   According to the US Forestry Service, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, the Paulownia’s ability to colonize rocky or infertile sites makes it a threat to rare, endangered species of plant life that require these marginal habitats.  Paulownia is often advertised as a “miracle tree” for its flowering beauty, rapid growth and tough constitution.  However, its weak branches and messy habits make it unwelcome in the landscape.

Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) is a woody, deciduous, perennial climbing vine, native to China.   While the plant is a climbing vine, it  can be trained into a tree-like shape, usually with a wavy trunk and a flattened trunk.   The flowers hang downward in showy clusters.   The wisteria was introduced to North American in 1816 and has secured a place as one of the most popular flowering vines for home gardeners due to its flowering habit.    However, it can be weedy and has become an invasive species.

Although, wisteria sinensis is a vine, when it climbs and envelopes a tree, it can be easily confused with Paulownia, being about the same shade of purple or violet.   Both Paulownia and the oriental Wisteria are considered invasive plants, definitely not the kind of plants you’d want to bring home to meet the family.

Article written by Alison Arnold, Extension Agent , Agriculture, Consumer Horticulture, Master Gardener Volunteers.

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Categories Invasive Plants Tags Paulownia tomentosa, princess tree, purple flowered tree, Wisteria sinensis

What Are Those Purple Flowering Trees—Native Redbud or Invasive Paulownia?

March 9, 2018

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). 

Eastern redbud_Cercis canadensis 'Silver Cloud'_UGA College of Ag_CC BY-NC 2.0_Flickr
Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis)

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.

Eastern redbud_flowers_reclaimednj_CC BY-NC 2.0_Flickr
Eastern redbud flowers
Heart-shaped leaves; Eastern redbud (Cercis canedensis)_heart-shaped leaves_Kerry Wixted_CC BY-NC 2.0_Flickr
Eastern redbud heart-shaped leaves
Eastern redbud (Cercis canedensis)_seed pods_NatureServe_CC BY-NC 2.0_Flickr
Eastern redbud seed pods

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.

Paulownia tomentosa_Princess tree_in flower_James Gaither_CC BY-NC-ND 2.0_Flickr
Paulownia tomentosa tree in flower
Paulownia tomentosa_Princess tree_huge leaves_James Gaither_CC BY-NC-ND 2.0_Flickr
Paulownia tomentosa tree, huge leaves

Article written by Barbara Hayes, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.

More information
Eastern redbud plant description
by NC State Extension

Eastern Redbud Plant Fact Sheet
by U.S. Department of Agriculture

Paulownia or Princess tree plant description
by NC State Extension

What Are the Purple-Flowered Trees? Paulownia and Oriental Wisteria
by Alison Arnold, Extension Agent, NCSU

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Categories Trees Tags Eastern redbud tree, Paulownia tomentosa, Paulownia tree, princess tree

Harbingers of Spring May Be Invasive Plants

April 28, 2014

One of the signs of Spring on our Master Gardener hot line is the question “What are those lovely purple-flowered trees we see along the highways?”

The dangling flowers of Paulownia grow from an upward-growing stem and collectively form a panicle
The dangling flowers of Paulownia grow from an upward-growing stem and collectively form a panicle

There are really two possibilities, the most likely being the Princess Tree, Paulownia tomentosa.  This tree can quickly grow to as much as 60 feet and is not at all demanding as to moisture or soil. That’s why we typically see it in locations where the soil has been disturbed and little else is growing.

Paulownia flowers are borne on erect panicles that grow upward. Each of those flowers produces a capsule that contains literally dozens of light, winged seeds that are widely disbursed by the wind. That explains how they reach high on the cliffs in the rocky gorge of  I-40 west toward Tennessee, for example.

Not only does the question arise on the Master Gardener helpline!  Apparently it is a frequently asked question of the staff of the NC Welcome Center along I-40. Prominently displayed on the doors of the welcome center are signs that tell what they are and that they are not native to NC.

The flowers of the other possibility hang downward in showy clusters and that’s an oriental Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis.  This is a vine but when it climbs and envelops a tree it can easily be confused with Paulownia, being about the same shade of violet or purple.   Your answer then is to check the arrangement of the flowers.  Growing upward equals Paulownia, hanging down, Wisteria.

Wisteria forest photo courtesy of peidmontgardener.org
Wisteria forest photo courtesy of piedmontgardener.org

Paulownia, by the way, is the “Miracle Tree” you see advertised for its flowering beauty, rapid growth and tough constitution.  However it really doesn’t make a good landscape tree as It has weak branches and  produces a lot of litter as leaves and seedpods scatter later on. Both, Paulownia tomentosa and Wisteria sinensis, are listed by several states and the US Forest Service as being invasive, definitely not the kind of plants you want to bring home to meet the family.

Article written by Glenn Palmer, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

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Categories Invasive Plants Tags Paulownia tomentosa, princess tree, purple flowered tree, Wisteria sinensis

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