Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis: “Pea Flowers”
In early spring the distinctive and profuse flowers of eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), a small tree native to eastern and central North America, defy color-description. Are they pink? Rose? Purple? Lilac? We need a new redbud word. Clustered against the gray bark of their leafless branches, the darker buds (magenta?) open to a thick and pale pink pelt, giving the tree a psychedelic and slightly prehistoric appearance.
Read on to learn how to cultivate this native tree, and why.
Photography by Marie Viljoen, unless otherwise noted.
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbud-buds-by-marie-viljoen-733x1100.jpg)
![The unique flowering habit of redbud makes it an effective showstopper, whether planted where it will contrast unapologetically with swaths of daffodils, or in a more restrained and indigenous garden.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/silas-mountsier-garden-by-marie-viljoen-733x489.jpg)
![Redbud is a modest-size tree, making it a good choice for small and urban gardens where space is at a premium.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbud-by-marie-viljoen-733x1100.jpg)
Equally happy in sun or semi-shade, redbud is a natural understory tree which also adapts well to the high shade created by clusters of city buildings. Cold hardy redbud will grow in USDA zones 4 to 9. Its one steady requirement is ample moisture; this is not a tree for dry areas.
The famous pea-like flowers are not only pretty but edible. Add a handful to a salad or to summer rolls for a burst of crisp sweetness.
![One cultivar offers eye-poppingly neon pink blossoms: \2\16;Appalachian Red\2\17; is not exactly red.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbud-appalachian-red-by-marie-viljoen-733x489.jpg)
![And if redbud pink is not your thing, choose cultivars such as \2\16;Royal White\2\17;, \2\16;Texas White\2\17;, and \2\16;Alba\2\17; for their cool and calm white blooms.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbud-white-flowers-by-marie-viljoen-733x489.jpg)
If you would like an alternative to green leaves, ‘Forest Pansy ‘ has deeply purple foliage.
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbud-seedpods-by-marie-viljoen-733x1100.jpg)
The appealingly heart-shaped foliage rounds out the slender trees and creates deep shade beneath the branches. In fall the leaves turn a bright yellow.
Cheat Sheet
- Some subspecies of Cercis canadensis will tolerate drier conditions: Ask for C. canadensis var. mexicana and C. canadensis var. texensis at native-plant nurseries.
- Redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma.
- Native Americans enjoyed the flowers as food.
- George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew the tree in their gardens at Mount Vernon and Monticello.
![](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/redbuds-by-mark-davis-733x442.jpg)
Keep It Alive
- Native to states with high annual rainfall, eastern redbud needs plenty of moisture and good drainage.
- Apply a layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture (do not mound it around the trunk, or the tree will rot).
- If planted in a container, choose one 24 inches or more in diameter, and monitor water closely (do not forget essential drainage holes).
- Redbuds are very stressed by a brief drought; stress makes them prone to disease (just like humans).
- If a branch is injured, prune it off cleanly: Injuries serve as portals for the fungi that cause dieback and Verticillium wilt in redbuds.
![Photograph by Patrick Standish via Flickr.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/eastern-redbud-tree-patrick-standish-flickr-733x489.jpg)
See more of our favorite flowering trees in our curated design guide to Trees 101, including Apple Trees 101, Dogwood Trees 101, and Lemon Trees 101. For more inspiration, see:
- Cherry Blossoms: 6 Flowering Trees to Grow at Home
- 8 Cold-Climate Flowering Shrubs and Small Trees for Early Spring
- Flowering Magnolias: 7 Favorite Trees to Plant
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