Cercis canadensis Linnaeus var. canadensis. Common name: Eastern Redbud, Judas Tree. Phenology: (Jan-) Late Feb-May; Jun-Nov (and persistent later). Habitat: Moist to dry forests and woodlands, especially over calcareous or mafic rocks, also commonly planted as an ornamental. Distribution: MA, WI, and NE south to c. peninsular FL and e. TX.
ID notes: This spectacular small tree is showy in bud or flower. The smooth, medium gray bark of younger trees is distinctive in winter; older trees develop shaggier bark with a reddish hue.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Other taxa within Cercis canadensis (here treated at varietal rank) occur in OK, TX, and Mexico.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, G, K4, NcTx, NE, NS, SE3, Tx, Va, Isely (1975), Isely (1998), Robertson & Lee (1976); = Cercis canadensis L. — S13; = Cercis canadensis L. ssp. canadensis — Can, FNA11.1, POWO; = Cercis canadensis L. var. typica M.Hopkins — Hopkins (1942); < Cercis canadensis L. — F, Fl3, GrPl, Il, Mi, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, W, WH3; > Cercis canadensis L. — Greene (1912a); > Cercis dilatata Greene — Greene (1912a); > Cercis georgiana Greene — Greene (1912a); Cercis canadensis L. Basionym: Cercis canadensis L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Cercis canadensis ssp. canadensis - FNA11.1
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
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© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 16-33 ft.
plant sale text: Redbud is a great small flowering tree for the home. As spring approaches this native produces a beautiful array of flower clusters all along bare branches. This happens before leaves emerge, which makes it all the more showy. Its heart shaped leaves are three to five inches across and can have an attractive yellow fall color. Two to three inch brown, pea-like seed pods will form in clusters around mid-summer. Branches have a zig-zag appearance and this can add great architecture to the landscape during the dormant season. This genus supports up to 19 lepidoptera species.
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cultural notes:
germination code: 3 then 2
native range: eastern North America
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