What is this tree with purple flowers

[OhamIreally]

Walked a different route home the other day and saw this tree. I was astounded as I don't think I've ever seen one before and no idea what it is.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Wisteria probably.

Is it a lilac? Some are coming into bloom, but it depends where you are. We're up North and there's not much in flower here yet, although my daughter's lilac tree is starting to show flowers.

I was told lilac and very bad luck !!

Buddleia ?

Definitely not a wisteria.

Does lilac flower before the leaves are out like a magnolia does? The shape of the purple blooms don't look like lilac.

My Nana uses to call it a Butterfly Bush

I think it's a lilac. We used to have a white lilac in our previous garden, I loved it.

It's a lilac. I have 4 of them.

Lilac. Definitely not Wisteria or Buddleia, they are a different shape.

Probably a lilac unless you’re very far south and someone has tried a jacaranda tree.
All out in Spain at this time of year.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-a-jacaranda-tree/

Zoomed in on the flowers they look a bit like foxgloves but on a tree

I'm familiar with Jacaranda but the flowers are a different shape

It's Paulownia tormentosa or foxglove tree.

Yep Pawlonia. Pretty rare, amazing flowers!

Oh wow! Thank you. Yes Foxglove Tree absolutely what it looks like. I've never seen one before and although I've taken this route before it must never have been in bloom.

It's very large so must have been there a good while.

Far too early for buddleia

Lilac is bad luck? Why?

Im pretty sure I saw a foxglove tree at paradise wildlife park today @OhamIreally and thought of this thread. I'm not much of gardener but I'd like to be.

I think that too.

According to Google, lilac was used to line coffins long ago, so it's the association with death, I guess.

I would say lilac. Usually very highly scented. I love them.

Sorry. The zoomed in photo suggests not a lilac.

Second Paulownia or foxglove tree, flowers before the leaves, very beautiful

I also came onto say that it's a paulownia tree - I've only ever seen them in France before!

Pawlonia, the 'foxglove tree'. There's one round the corner from here. I've seen it flower once in 14 years. It was a showstopper when it did though. Beautiful.