What is this purple shrub?

[dmsjps]

Just recently I've seen a lovely purple/lilac shrub when I've been driving past people's houses and I want one but I don't know what it is. It's very big and full but I don't know if the purple colour is from leaves or flowers.

Does anyone have any idea what it might be called so that I can look it up and see if that's the one I mean?

Sorry to be so vague, but I've only had fleeting glimpses from a distance! I tried to remember where one house was so that I could go back to it, but my memory is terrible!

[Clanad]

Could be a Japanese Maple.  They should grow well in England... check here...

http://www.worldplants.com/upright.htm

[dmsjps]

Thanks very much Clanad for your super-fast response! Unfortunately it's not that one though. I do have one of those and I love it: beautiful this time of year. The flowers (or leaves, whatever they are) on the plant I've seen are much more purple/lilac than the purple/red/brown of this plant.

[fibifooz]

Could it be a lilac tree/ shrub?

[Jules001]

I think it is probably wisteria, is it like a vine climbing up around the house or is it a tree? Check out this link http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/6632/1?R A=tiscali

[ursula62]

It could be a rhododendron or azalea. Many are in bloom this time of year.

http://www.donnan.com/images/AzHerbert.JPG

http://www.donnan.com/images/HerbertMnr.JPG

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/plantbio/digitalflowers/Ericaceae/3.htm