What are these tiny purple flowers carried on the wind?

April 5, 2009 10:02 PM

We've had high winds the last few days, and these tiny purple flowers have been drifting into my yard from parts unknown. I am obsessed with finding out what they are!

Each little "flowerette" is about the size of a dime or smaller, and they almost always seem to be in clumps of three flowers. None of them have had any leaves attached. If they have a scent, it's too subtle for my nose to pick up.

I have been looking around my neighborhood as I come and go every day, but I haven't seen anything blooming with flowers like these, but then, I can't see into most of the back yards. With the high winds we have been having, and how small and light these flowers are, they could be coming from blocks away. I watched some in my yard get picked up by the wind and vanish down the road, so they may even be leap-frogging yard-to-yard from who knows where.

They are so pretty though, and I want to have one of whatever it is!

Oh, and I live in Central Texas, if that helps.

posted by Orb to home & garden (4 comments total)

They look like blossoms from the Chinaberry tree.
posted by various at 11:10 PM on April 5

Chinaberry tree, seconded. I also live in central Texas.
posted by raildr at 2:21 AM on April 6

Are they all 4 petaled?
posted by watercarrier at 2:21 AM on April 6

Bingo! It's gotta be Chinaberry! I guess I won't be getting one of those. Don't need any really tall, invasive, weed-like trees in my yard. Now I can stop driving around the neighborhood like some sort of tree and plant stalker. Thanks!

Some seem to have four petals, some five, but considering the wind they have been blowing around in, I'm surprised any of them have any petals at all.
posted by Orb at 4:18 AM on April 6