Catalpa × erubescens ‘Purpurea’

Purple Catalpa

Catalpa × erubescens ‘Purpurea’ is a deciduous ornamental tree with a broad, rounded crown and a picturesque branching habit. This hybrid catalpa is prized for its striking purple new foliage, large heart-shaped leaves, showy white flowers, and long decorative seed pods.

The foliage emerges deep purple to burgundy in spring before gradually maturing to bronze-green and finally dark green through summer. The large, heart-shaped leaves create a bold tropical appearance. In early summer, upright clusters of trumpet-shaped white flowers marked with purple and yellow inside the throat appear, followed by long, slender bean-like seed pods that often remain on the tree into winter.

Catalpa × erubescens ‘Purpurea’ grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soils but adapts well to clay, loam, and urban soils. It tolerates heat, pollution, and moderate drought once established. It is ideal as a specimen tree, shade tree, in parks, and large residential landscapes.