Cercis canadensis

Plant Family

Fabaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Cercis canadensis

Photo by: GERALD L. KLINGAMAN

Plant Common Name

Eastern Redbud

General Description

This is certainly one of the most beautiful of the North American deciduous trees. Eastern redbud is a medium-sized tree that is native to eastern and central North America. Prized as both a specimen tree and small shade tree, it may be multi-stemmed or single-trunked and has a broad, rounded or spreading canopy.

Eastern redbud has very distinctive large, heart-shaped leaves that are often tinted with purple when they first emerge, turn medium green shortly after and then yellow in fall. In spring, before the leaves emerge, its brown branches become covered with clusters of small, sweetpea-like flowers of purple-red, pink or white. These are followed by dark brown seed pods that persist well after the leaves fall in autumn. The popular cultivar 'Forest Pansy' sports attractive dark purple-green foliage all season.

Grow this fine tree in sites with full to partial sun and fertile, well-drained but evenly moist soil. It is naturally found growing in uplands and lowlands and is well adapted to a wide range of soil types. It can also grow in shadier sites but will not develop a full robust canopy in an understory. It is a fine small shade tree for naturalistic landscapes as well as more formal gardens.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  9 - 6

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  3 - 9

• Sunset Zone

  1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

• Plant Type

  Tree

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  25'-30' / 7.6m - 9.1m

• Width

  25'-30' / 7.6m - 9.1m

• Bloom Time

  Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring

• Native To

  Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Clay, Loam, Sand

• Growth Rate

  Medium

• Habit

  Oval/Rounded

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  White, Purple, Pink, Light Pink

• Fruit Color

  Brown, Chocolate

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Purple, Plum

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Yellow, Yellow Green

• Bark Color

  Brown, Sandy Brown

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  Yes

• Foliage Texture

  Medium

• Foliage Sheen

  Glossy

• Evergreen

  No

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Fissured

• Usage

  Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Attracts

  Birds

• Self-Sowing

  Yes