Xanthophyllum purpureum is a plant in the family Polygalaceae.

The specific epithet purpureum is from the Latin meaning 'purple', referring to the flowers.

[2] Xanthophyllum purpureum grows as a shrub or small tree up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of up to 20 centimetres (10 in).

The flowers are purple to rose-violet, drying orange-red.

The pale yellow-brown fruits are round and measure up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter.