Eastern Redbud
(Cercis canadensis )
Left: Cercis Canadensis in ASMSA Garden in Summer 2023.
Above: Mature Eastern Redbud in full bloom.
Plant Characteristics
Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:
Eastern redbud is relatively easy to grow, being well suited for full sun to partial shade. They prefer well-drained soils, but do equally well in acidic or basic soils.
Growth Habit/Description:
Medium- size decidious tree that can get up to 20’ in height with a similar spread with alternate, simple, broadly heart-shaped leaves. Leaves emerge reddish, and turn green as they expand. They turn yellowish in autumn. Develops pea-like flowers that are rosy pink with a purplish tinge. Redbud is ramiflorous, meaning it bears flower and fruits on bare branches. By mid-summer, the flowers are replaced by bean-like seed pods (legumes) that persist through the winter. The flowers and young legumes are edible.
Bloom Season:
The rosy pink flowers bloom between March and April for 2-3 weeks. These are replaced by the leaves in the summer and the legumes. The leaves are lost in autumn, but the legumes remain until next spring.
Fall and/or Winter Interest?
Yes. Flat, oblong legume that is 2 to 3 inches long will persist as food for birds through the fall and winter.
Distribution
Habitat: Eastern Redbud’s native range is New Jersey to northern Florida, west to Missouri and Texas and northern Mexico. Trees grow on upland and disturbed sites in a variety of soils. Trees are frequent in mesic woodlands across Kentucky.
Native to Arkansas? Yes
Native to Garland County? Yes
Endemic to Arkansas? No
Ecological Value
Host Plant for Caterpillars?
Yes. Many butterflies and moths use this tree as a host plant, one of those being the Henry's Elfin butterfly.
Other Known Ecological Value?
Yes. Legumes provide winter food for birds and other wildlife. The nectar and pollen attract primarily honey bees, bumble bees, mason bees, cuckoo bees, long-horned bees, mining bees, and sweat bees.
Other Interesting Facts
Origin of Name: Eastern Redbud grows in eastern North America, and it has beautiful pink flowers.
Related Plant Species: The only other plant in North America in the genus Cercis is Cercis occidentalis, commonly known as the western redbud. It is very similar to eastern redbud but is instead located in western North America rather than eastern.
Use For Food/Medicine:
Flower buds and legume pods are edible, and extracts from the inner bark and roots were used to treat colds, the flu and fever.
References
Ryan, Barb. c 2023. PennState Extension. Eastern Redbuds Support Early Pollinators [Cited 2023, Sept. 9].
Available from: https://extension.psu.edu/eastern-redbuds-support-early-pollinators#:~:text=Redbuds%20are%20also%20host%20plants,turn%20yellow%20in%20the%20fall.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis [Cited 2023, Sept. 9].
Available from: https://bernheim.org/learn/trees-plants/bernheim-select-urban-trees/eastern-redbud/