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Fabaceae
Red Bud Flower
Cercis canadensis
Spring renewal and awakening.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Cercis
- Native to
- eastern North America
- Bloom season
- Early Spring
- Type
- deciduous tree
- Height
- 6–9 m
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 4–9
- Lifespan
- 50–75 years
Did you know
- Redbud flowers emerge directly from the bark of branches and even the trunk — a trait called cauliflory.
- The flowers are edible and have a mild, slightly tart flavor; they can be tossed into salads.
- George Washington recorded transplanting redbuds from the forest to his Mount Vernon gardens.
- Redbud is one of the earliest native trees to flower, often blooming before any leaves appear.
- Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is its Old World cousin — legend says Judas hanged himself from one.
Color meanings
Pink
rebirth and the promise of spring
Magenta
joyful anticipation