
One of its most defining characteristics is its candles, which are enormous, white, glossy buds. It has green needles that are anywhere from 8 inches to 15 inches in length and grow in groups of three. The flowers of Longleaf Pine are male clusters that are yellowish-red and elongated in shape, while the female flowers are oval and purple. This tall, straight-trunked tree known as the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill) can be found in a wide range of environments, from moist, poorly drained flatwoods to dry, well-drained dunes. It is also a popular addition to gardens and backyards, providing habitat for a variety of animals and birds such as pine warbler, brown-headed nuthatch, deer, gray and fox squirrels, quail, turkey and osprey, and bald eagles. The buds on the twigs are broadly ovoid and have a light hue and the twigs themselves range in thickness from fine to considerable. Besides these well-drained areas, it can also be found flourishing at the fringes of marshes.Īs it ages, the tree’s bark darkens from a reddish-brown to a brown with shallow cracks splitting it into plates that are broad and flat on top and coated in thin scales. This tree can survive in a wide range of conditions, but it does especially well in ancient fields with sandy soils and a shallow water table. Its lower branches tend to self-prune, while its higher branches grow upward and are accompanied by an oval and somewhat open crown.įemale flowers are tiny cones of yellow to purple color, while the male counterpart is red or yellow, are cylindrical, and grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. It is a tall tree with an average height of 120ft and 2-3ft diameter. It is the most important commercial timber in Southeastern states including Virginia. If you live in Virginia and have done any kind of woodwork in your home, then 9 out of 10 times loblolly Pine is the one that you have used. If you are interested in growing this tree, do control its growth periodically by pruning. Because of their ability to shoot from the roots and thousands of seeds, they are quite hard to control and can displace native species very quickly. Royal Paulownia is considered to be invasive in the US. Its bark is thin, grayish-brown, and has shallow cracks. Its twigs are strong, light brown, and have numerous pores with little buds and rounded leaf scars. One to one and a half inches in diameter, its oval capsules contain thousands of tiny, winged seeds that start wide and green before turning brown and dry. They can range in length from 5 to 12 inches.īefore the leaves emerge in the spring, it produces enormous clusters of 1 1/2 to 2 inch long, purple, tube-shaped flowers that are quite fragrant. the leaves of this plant are opposite, straightforward, heart-shaped, and velvety below. It is well known for tolerating a wide range of soil circumstances, especially in arid regions. It is a relatively short tree that can reach up to 50ft in height with a diameter of 1-2 ft. Royal Paulownia is native to East Asia and China and was brought to the US a few hundred years back as an ornamental tree. The bark of this plant was traditionally used to treat dysentery. Although some birds and mammals may consume its seeds, it is primarily grown as a decorative component of small landscapes. When the tree is blooming, the entire landscape is a sight to watch.Īlthough heavy, hard, and richly colored in dark brown, the wood of the Royal Paulownia has little to no commercial. Before the leaves emerge in the early spring, bright pink to purple, half-inch-long blossoms that resemble pea flowers develop in clusters along the twigs and short branches. They have heart-shaped leaves that are simple and alternate with smooth edges.


It is also one of the shortest purple trees in Virginia, with a maximum attainable height of 30 ft along with a 6 to 10-inch diameter trunk. And in fact, no other trees in this list can come close to the beauty of Eastern redbud. If you drive along the countryside, all those majestic purple trees are redbud. Eastern Redbud Credit: Paul CooperĮastern Redbud is the gold standard of purple trees in Virginia.

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at quite a few purple trees in Virginia that have purple shades in either flowers, fruits, or bark. And, if you are fascinated by the purple flowers of eastern Redbud, be ready to get fascinated again. Virginia is blessed with a variety of trees in different shades of color.
