Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Cercis orbiculata
Cercis orbiculata Greene
California Redbud, Western Redbud, Arizona Redbud, Pata De Vaca
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Synonym(s): Cercis canadensis var. orbiculata, Cercis occidentalis var. orbiculata
USDA Symbol: ceor9
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Large flowering shrub or small tree with rounded crown of many spreading branches.
California Redbud is common in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, and is a handsome ornamental with showy flowers that cover the twigs in early spring. Native Americans used to make bows from the wood. Deer browse the foliage.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , PurpleBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NV , UTNative Distribution: N. California east to S. Utah and south to S. Arizona; at 500-6000' (152-1829 m).
Native Habitat: Canyons and slopes of foothills and mountains.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy flowers and seedpods. Attractive foliage.Use Other: Bark and young shoots used in basketry by indigenous peoples.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSpecial Value to Bumble Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiBibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. Kat
Search More Titles in Bibliography
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1984 VOL. 1, NO.4 - Lady Bird Heartened by Progress, Horticultural Society Annual Meeting Held, Dire...Wildflower Newsletter 1985 VOL. 2, NO.4 - Message From Helen Hayes, Head for the Hill Country, Spring Tours at the Center,...
Additional resources
USDA: Find Cercis orbiculata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Cercis orbiculata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cercis orbiculata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2009-06-07Research By: TWC Staff