Cercis canadensis
Object Details
- Description
- One of the first trees to bloom in the spring, eastern redbud is known for its many pink pea flower-like blossoms. The flowers bloom on the tree’s bare branches before the leaves appear, creating the image of branches entirely covered in pink flowers. Some Native Americans used this tree for food, medicinally, and to beautify the home.
- Eastern redbud is Endangered in New Jersey, and of Special Concern in Connecticut.
- Hardiness
- -30 - 20 F
- Attracts
- Butterflies
- Bloom Time
- March to May
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- Some Native Americans would bring blooming redbud branches into the home to "drive winter out." Children would eat the blossoms, which could be eaten raw or fried.
- Medicinal / Pharmaceutical
- The Alabama, Cherokee, Delaware, Kiowa, and Oklahoma are some of the Native American tribes who used redbud bark in various preparations to treat whooping cough, vomiting, and fever.
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Range
- Central to E US; Mexico
- Habitat
- forest understory in moist woods, riparian, in revines, on bluffs, open rocky woods, abandoned farmland
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2019-0320A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Common Name
- Eastern Redbud
- Judas Tree
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Rosanae
- Order
- Fabales
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Cercis
- Species
- canadensis
- Life Form
- Deciduous tree
- Average Height
- 15-30'
- Bark Characteristics
- Brown, scaly
- Bloom Characteristics
- Grow on old twigs, branches, and the trunk. Irregular, pea flower-shaped, and 3-4.5" long.
- Fall Color
- Yellow
- Foliage Characteristics
- Simple, alternate, cordate, leaves start light green and darken over time. 4" long.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Clusters of green pods turn brown once they mature. Each contains 4-10 black or brown seeds. 3.5" long.
- Structure
- Mature: vase
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2019-0320A