IDentifying purple flowering tree

[Rad Michelle]

This is a great tree infrint of new house I hear it blooms purple in the summer any idea?

[kitfoxdrvr]

Michelle:

Looks an awful lot like a crape myrtle to me!  The genus is Lagerstroemia, and this is likely one of the MANY hybrids.  Unless you tropical guys have something that has trunks, exfoliating bark, and general shape like a crape myrtle (I wouldn't put it past you guys!).

Steve

[PondmaninAL]

Without a close up look at the leaves, I would have to guess that it's a crepe myrtle.

[Holldoll]

I agree - crepe myrtle

[Rad Michelle]

Google it, very pretty will post pics when it blooms

[Julles]

Ditto.

Other purple-blooming trees with somewhat similar trunk/bark are the Texas Mountain Laurel and the Vitex.

[Jerry]

way to big for a crape myrtle  maybe it's on steriods?

[Johns]

Some Crape Myrtle grow to 30 feet.  The bark looks a lot like a Crape Myrtle, but to be sure, we would need to see the bloom. 

[Jerry]

I know they have multiple trunks  but so many so spread out?

[Rad Michelle]

 can take a close up of the foliage if it helps. I'm not sure when it is supposed to bloom but will keep an eye out for buds!

[Jerry]

We had them in the parkway at our old home, They bloomed in August.

[kitfoxdrvr]

can take a close up of the foliage if it helps. I'm not sure when it is supposed to bloom but will keep an eye out for buds!

That would help.  Around here, bloom starts in June and July, so you may see bud development soon.  Clusters of buds will form at the termination of each stem (terminal panicle).  That will clinch it!

Jerry, a neighbor has an allee of them that forms a "cave" for their driveway.  As Johns said, they get large.

Steve