They are redbuds.

Thanks. You just confirmed what I thought, but when I said redbud trees first that just didn't seem right to me as they are more purple looking. I guess my first instinct was right.

Now I know what redbuds are and how they look and they do look kind of purple, but right now (the first and second week of April) in western Tennessee, I've seen a couple of trees that are blooming that look really PURPLE. I am talking a light grape sucker color, light lavender color and not the pink-violet color of redbuds. I wonder if they could be that tree that I've seen advertised as the fastest growing tree ever or something like that. The one tree I see almost everyday is close to our railroad track in front of a home builder's store front and is about 15-20 feet tall. Has anyone seen one of these and can anyone identify it? I'll try to get a photo of one if I can.
Katie

Katie: Any chance you could post a pic of the tree you are talking about?

Yep, that looks like the two that are near me. Someone who lives behind me has one and there is one in our small town. Thanks for identifying it!

Katie

Just drove down 75 through Tennessee and fell in love with the purple oriental looking trees. Any suggestions as to what it is? It was everywhere along the highway. I have a picture on my computer but it wont copy & paste to here. Any suggestions?