Plant Image Data Base                                         

   Cercis canadensis

                                                        Redbud, Eastern Redbud, or Judas Tree

• Form
  • small deciduous ornamental tree
  • often maturing at 15' tall by 15' wide, but can become twice as large under optimum conditions
  • if grown in an open area, it has an upright vase growth habit in youth, becoming spreading rounded to irregularly-shaped and often leaning with age; however, it is often found with a highly irregular shape in forests and woodlands, where it stretches for its limited sunlight
  • medium growth rate after ten years, but rapid growth rate in youth
• Culture
  • full sun to partial shade
  • prefers and needs a moist, rich, well-drained soil in partial sun to partial shade for long-term optimum performance, but is somewhat adaptable to many types of soils
  • abundantly available in ball and burlap form
• Foliage
  • medium green, slowly turning to dark green, about 4" long and 4" wide
  • heart-shaped foliage
  • fall color is often chartreuse
• Flowers
  • small, clustered, sessile dark brown floral buds swell to purple-lavender buds in early Spring, slowly opening to pink-lavender flowers, prominently displayed in April before the foliage emerges and persistent for two to three weeks
  • flowers may be directly on the trunk or branches, but most are on two-year-old wood

• Function
  • foundation, specimen, entranceway, group planting, woodland edge, naturalization, or spring accent tree
• Assets
  • striking floral display in April before the foliage emerges
  • rapid growth in youth yields a quick ornamental tree
  • ornamental bark with age
  • vase growth habit in youth (V-shaped outline)
• Purpose
  • Eastern Redbud is a quick-growing small tree often used as a specimen tree, in group plantings, or in naturalized areas, noted for its early Spring accent flowering and vase growth habit in youth.
• Summary
  • Cercis canadensis is a popular small ornamental tree, whose assets of lavender-pink spring flowers, youthful quick growth and vase growth habit, and ornamental bark and branching character with age are contrasted with its tendency to have a short functional service life of about fifteen years in many urban landscapes.

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