The Purpleheart Tree
There are 23 different species of trees that yield purple heart lumber, all belonging to the genus Peltogyne. Each species is so similar to the next that they are all accepted as purple heart. The trees grow up to 170 feet, although they usually only reach 120-150 feet with diameters of up to four feet. They can be found in rainforests throughout Central and South America.
Peltogyne trees produce white, five-petaled flowers and fruit pods containing a single seed.