6 Common Purple Trees In Ohio (Purple Flowers, Leaves & Fruits)
Are you curious about the purple-leaved tree or the blooms you recently spotted in Ohio? Well, then this is the right place.
In this article, I will talk about 6 common purple trees in Ohio. These trees have either purple flowers, leaves, or berries. Each tree is provided with high-quality pictures and detailed information that helps in identifying and growing.
Let’s get started.
1. Eastern Wahoo
- Common Name: Eastern Wahoo aka Spindle Tree or Burning-bush
- Scientific Name: Euonymus atropurpureus
- Mature Height: 20–25′ (6–7.5 m)
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: 4-parted purple flowers
- Uses: Attracts birds with its fleshy fruit
The Eastern Wahoo trees are the most commonly seen purple trees in Ohio. It is a lovely native tree that grows near streams, rivers, and floodplains.
It can reach a height of 25 feet and has single or many trunks with an uneven crown. The oval leaves are attached oppositely and have a pointed tip with a finely serrated border. The undersides of the leaves are frequently hairy and have a dull green tint.
The Eastern Wahoo’s four-parted purple flowers are one of its most distinctive characteristics. These blooms are small and delicate, yet their distinct hue sets them apart.
After the flowers bloom, the tree produces 4-lobed capsules that mature from pink to crimson. Each capsule contains four seeds with a fleshy coating. They provide an excellent food source for birds and remain on the tree throughout the winter while the birds disseminate the seeds.
Another intriguing feature of the Eastern Wahoo is its bark. It is incredibly smooth and greenish-gray with reddish-brown streaks. Its twigs also have unique corky ridges or wings. T
The tree’s fall color is crimson, which contrasts beautifully with the green leaves.
2. Pawpaw
- Common Name: Pawpaw
- Scientific Name: Asimina triloba
- Mature Height: 20-30 feet (6-9 meters)
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Flowers
- Uses: Fruit
Another entry in the list of purple trees in Ohio, Pawpaw is an interesting tree that may be found all over the United States. Its lovely blossoms, which come in reddish-purple colors, are what make it so unique. The blooms have an odd triangular form with six petals.
These trees are normally seen alone or in tiny groups and have a strong odor.
Despite its awful odor, the Pawpaw fruit is widely valued. When ripe, the green berry-like fruit becomes yellow, brown, or black and has a texture similar to prunes. The fruit is typically eaten raw and has a wonderfully fruity, custard-like flavor.
The tree also has huge leaves that grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and are broader toward the end.
The Pawpaw is a member of the Custard-apple family, which includes a variety of tropical trees that yield fruit such as soursops and custard apples. It can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall and has smooth, brown bark with tiny ridges. The tree grows in moist areas such as floodplains and can form dense thickets or colonies.
The fruit of the Pawpaw, which was originally consumed by American Indians and early immigrants, is still available in stores today.
Despite its native status in the United States, the tree does not reach its full potential in northern regions, where it is nearing the end of its growing range.
3. Norway Maple (Leaves)
- Common Name: Norway Maple
- Scientific Name: Acer platanoides
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Non-Native
- Flowers/Cones: Flowers
- Uses: Ornamental tree
Unlike the previous two purple flowering purple trees in Ohio, Norway Maple is a lovely ornamental tree that has purple leaves in the fall. In other seasons, it has glossy dark green leaves that are lobed with shallow notches and a wavy edge and are light green below.
When a twig or leaf is severed, it releases a milky sap. The bark of the tree is dark gray, with numerous small furrows and interlacing ridges.
The Norway Maple has enormous green flowers that are half to three-quarters of an inch wide and grow on a one to two-inch-long green stem in the spring.
It is a non-native species that was introduced from Europe about 100 to 125 years ago and is now found in parks, yards, and streets across the country.
The tree derives its name from Norway, where it originated. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soils and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. The autumn season is enhanced by the Norway Maple’s yellow-to-orange fall colors.
Norway maples are highly prized for their disease and pest resistance, and they have the potential to surpass native maples. It spreads quickly and widely due to its distinctive winged seeds, which are one to two inches long.
Aside from its beauty, the tree contributes significantly to the environment by establishing an ecosystem for animals, birds, and insects.
4. Nannyberry (Fruit & Leaves)
- Common Name: Nannyberry
- Scientific Name: Viburnum lentago
- Mature Height: 10-20 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: White flowers, clusters of green berry-like fruit
Nannyberry is one of the shortest purple trees in Ohio that can reach a height of 20 feet. It has the appearance of a huge shrub with drooping branches and a dense circular crown.
The leaves are simple, oval-shaped, and have a bright green color. They have a pointy tip and fine-toothed borders and are linked to the branches on the opposite side. The leafstalk is flattened into a U shape and covered in swellings or glands. This aids in identifying the tree. The leaves turn a gorgeous red to reddish-purple tint in the fall.
Nannyberry blooms in flat clusters of little white flowers in the spring. They are about 14 inches across, and the clusters can range from 3 to 5 inches wide.
The fruit develops in late summer and resembles a green berry. When the fruit is ripe, it turns dark purple and resembles a raisin. It is sweet and edible, but it has a big seed that makes it difficult to consume. However, wildlife enjoys the fruit.
Nannyberry is a native tree that thrives in a wide range of soil conditions, from wet to dry. It grows at woodland borders, stream banks, and hillsides. It is also known as Wild Raisin, Sweet Viburnum, and Blackhaw.
5. White Ash (Leaves)
- Common Name: White Ash
- Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet (12-18 meters)
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Winged seeds (samara)
- Uses: Baseball bats, snowshoes, and hockey sticks
White ash is a native tree that may be found all over the United States.
This tree’s blossoms, which are winged seeds called samaras, are an intriguing characteristic. When these seeds mature, they turn brown and fall off the trees. The wing tip of each samara is notched or rounded and measures one to two inches (2.5-5 cm) in length. These seeds survive the winter on the tree.
A medium-sized tree with a single straight stem and a narrow, open circular crown, White Ash is a species of ash.
The compound leaves are 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) long and made up of 7 oval leaflets 3-5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm) long. The leaves are connected in opposite directions and contain few teeth. The upper side of the leaves is dark green, while the underside is bright white.
White Ash bark is greenish-gray with multiple furrows and interlacing diamond-shaped ridges. Every 2-5 years, the tree produces abnormally massive amounts of seeds. It thrives on well-drained soils, upland settings, and sunny locations. Young sprouts can emerge from stumps or after a fire.
The White Ash tree grows quickly, reaching a height of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in less than 5 years. Baseball bats, snowshoes, and hockey sticks are all made from straight, narrow-grained wood. The common name “White” relates to the leaves’ whitish undersides. The leaves become a gorgeous copper-purple color in the fall.
6. Hackberry (Fruit)
- Common Name: Hackberry
- Scientific Name: Celtis occidentalis
- Mature Height: 40–60 feet (12–18 meters)
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Tiny green flowers, ⅛ inch (.3 cm) wide
- Uses: Fruit is sweet and edible when ripe, commonly used by birds for food
Hackberry is one of the most commonly found purple trees in Ohio with purple fruits. It is a deciduous tree known for its distinctive corky bark. This tree is also known as Northern Hackberry or Sugarberry.
It produces dark purple, berry-like fruits in the fall, which are popular with many bird species. When mature, the fruit is delicious.
Hackberries can reach heights of 60 feet (18 meters), with a single stem and rising branches that taper to drooping ends, forming a gracefully spreading circular crown.
The leaves are simple and lance-shaped, measuring 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in length. They are dark green on top and paler on the bottom, with uniformly spaced sharp teeth and vein hairs. Tiny green flowers only 1.8 inches across develop from the bases of young leaves in early April.
This natural tree thrives in a wide range of soil conditions, from floodplain forests to drier places with partial shade.
It can live up to 150 years and is an excellent addition to any environment. Non-fatal witches’-broom generates dense clusters of little short twigs at branch tips, and mite insects can form dimple-like galls on leaves that do not harm the tree’s health.
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Common Purple Trees In Ohio – Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Trees Of Ohio, Division Of Wildlife
- Trees Of Ohio Field Guide, Book by Stan Tekiela
- Ohio Trees, OSU Extension Publications
- Native Plant Lists, Ohio Department Of Natural Resources
- Ohio Department Of Agriculture
- Gardening, The Ohio State University
