Makin, Julie
Cercis canadensis L.
Eastern redbud, Redbud
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Tree with short trunk, rounded crown of spreading branches, and pink flowers that cover the twigs in spring. Redbud is a 15-30 ft.
tree with one to several picturesque, maroon-purple trunks and a wide, umbrella-like crown. Its pink flowers, borne in tight clusters along the stems and branches before new leaves appear, create a showy spring display. Smooth, heart-shaped,
deciduous foliage does not have significant fall color. Trees from the southern part of the species’ range have smaller, glossier leaves and often a more compact form. Stunning tiny pink flower clusters cover the
entire tree.
Three geographic varieties are recognized, with
Cercis canadensis var. canadensis properly referred to as Eastern Redbud and occurring from the Atlantic coast to central Texas. It reaches the largest size, requires the most water, and has larger, less glossy leaves than the other varieties. Variety
texensis, Texas Redbud, has smaller, glossier leaves with slightly wavy edges, a generally smaller form, and more of a tendency to have red seedpods than variety
canadensis. It ranges from Oklahoma south through central Texas to northeastern Mexico. The smallest variety is
C. canadensis var. mexicana, Mexican Redbud, with small, very glossy, wavy-edged leaves and a smaller, shrubbier stature than the others, occurring in west Texas and adjacent Mexico. All varieties are popular as ornamentals because of their brilliant early spring flowers, displayed en masse on the bare branches before the plant has leafed out. The flowers can be eaten as a salad or fried. A separate species,
Cercis orbiculata, Western Redbud, occurs from Arizona to California. According to myth, Judas Iscariot hung himself on the related Judas-tree (
Cercis siliquastrum L.) of western Asia and southern Europe, after which the white flowers turned red with shame or blood.
Image Gallery:
21 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf Shape: Cordate Leaf Texture: Leathery
Breeding System: Flowers
Bisexual Size Notes: 15-30
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower:
Fruit: Red, Brown Approximately 3-1/2 inches long.
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MA , MI , MS , MO , NE , NJ , NM , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV , DC
Canada: ON Native Distribution: FL to TX, n. to PA, OH, s. MI, s. IA & s.e. NE
Native Habitat: Woods; stream banks; limestone bluffs
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist, fertile, well-drained soils.
Benefit
Use Food: Add flowers and flower buds to salads, breads and pancakes. They have a slightly sour taste, high in vitamin C. Young pods may be eaten raw, boiled or sauteed. (Tull)
Use Other: Boiled in water, redbud twigs produce a yellow dye. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Last Update: 2012-04-12
