Purpurea is a deciduous catalpa with large heart-shaped leaves. New foliage is deep purple before becoming green, and long seed pods follow flowering.
Size and growth: approximately 12 m; spread about 8 m. Flowering: white flowers with orange and purple markings.
Lifespan: A numerical lifespan range is not established by the references used. These figures describe the taxon, rather than the current dimensions or health of the specimen in Prague.