General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 20 to 30 feet
Plant Spread: 20 to 25 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Other: brown pea-like pods
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on old wood
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Patio/Ornamental/Small Tree
Uses: Flowering Tree
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Stratify seeds
Scarify seeds
Pollinators: Bees
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Eastern Redbud
  • Canadian Redbud
  • American Redbud
  • American Judas Tree

Photo Gallery
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2016-10-03
Redbud at the rainbows end
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: March 11,  2022
Judas tree #101; RAB page 574, 98-4-1; AG p. 147, 32-40-1; LHB pa
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2018-10-17
Cercis canadensis
Location: Iowa
Date: 2008-05-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-04-11
Location: Near Birch Tree, MO
Date: 2019-04-15
Growing wild.
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: March 11,  2022
Judas tree #101; RAB page 574, 98-4-1; AG p. 147, 32-40-1; LHB pa

Date: 2017-04-22
Location: SW Virginia
Date: 2021-04-16
Location: Utrecht Botanical Garden
Date: 2023-03-25
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2017-04-29
Autumn in my garden
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-03-24
first flower buds opening
Photo by sedumzz

Date: 2018-05-03
Location: Washington, DC
Date: 2012-03-31
Location: Des Plaines, IL
Date: early May
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: March 11,  2022
Judas tree #101; RAB page 574, 98-4-1; AG p. 147, 32-40-1; LHB pa
Location: Tahlequah, OK
Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-04-25
Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-03-13
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2010-04-19
Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2010-04-05
Redbud blooms
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2010-03-24
Location: Shenandoah National Parl
Date: 2012-03-28
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2011-10-08
Eastern redbud in the evening
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2017-04-29
Autumn leaves on Eastern Redbud
Location: Willow Valley Communities, Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2019-04-18
Location: West Valley City, UT
Location: my front yard just north of Atlanta GA.  Full sun, southwestern exposure
Date: 2013-04-09
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-03-02
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Date: 2008-04-23
flowers on trunk
Location: Downingtown Pennsylvania
Date: 2017-04-20
full-grown tree in bloom
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-03-19
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-04-01
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-11-17
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-03-27
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-04-08
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-29
8-year-old "self sown" redbud, in it's autumn glory
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Leaf reverse.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-12-22
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2021-04-21
The aftermath of a late April snow storm.
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2010-04-19
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-05-08
Location: SW Virginia
Date: 2021-04-16
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2016-04-02
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2016-04-02
Location: Killeen,Tx
Date: 2023-03-10

Date: 2018-05-03
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: February
Location: Washington, DC
Date: 2012-03-31
Location: Washinton, DC
Date: 2012-03-31
Photo by Hamwild
Location: My garden NSW Australia
Date: 2017-10-12
Flowers on Eastern Redbud planted in memory of Grandson.
Location: Poznań Botanical Garden of the University of Adama Mickiewicza, Poland
Date: 2022-05-10
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-01-28
This tree eagerly self-seeds from numerous seed pods
Location: Winston-Salem , NC
Date: April 14, 2022
Judas tree #101; RAB page 574, 98-4-1; AG p. 147, 32-40-1; LHB pa
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2021-04-20
Late April snow beginning to accumulate on redbud blooms and buds
Location: Tarlton
Date: 2018-05-27

Date: March 2011
Close up of blooms
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-04-24
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5
Date: 2011-10-04
Photo by dave
Location: Bluestone Walk garden
Date: 2016-0425
Location: Near Great Cacapon, Morgan Co., West Virginia
Date: 2014-05-08
Ne
Location: Downingtown Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-10-22
crown of young, mature tree in fall color
Location: Downingtown Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-04-08
tree in bloom
Location: Iowa
Location: Shenandoah National Park
Date: 2012-03-28
Location: Marble Falls, TX
Location: Yard
Date: 2023-03-07
Location: Bluestone Path garden
Date: 2014-0703
Center, top, at x marks.
Location: Tampa, FL
Date: 2015-03-01
Location: Indiana  zone 5
Date: 2016-04-25
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2010-04-19
Just a few years old. Started from volunteers.
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2010-04-19
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-03-29
Location:  Bob Woodruff Park Plano, TX
Date: 2016-03-06
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-04-24
immature as yet
Location: Home garden
Date: 2021-10-09
ByKYgal
Location: Near Great Cacapon, Morgan Co., West Virginia
Date: 2014-05-08
Typical roadside occurrence in this area
Location: Downingtown Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-10-22
young mature plant in golden fall color
Location: My Yard
Date: 2019-06-02
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-04-01
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2011-05-05
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-05-15
Mid May
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2005-08-20
Ruby Throated Hummer in tree.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2009-01-30
Snowy and icy.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2005-04-22
Spring
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2005-11-06
Fall
Location: Our Driveway - Hot Springs Village, AR
Date: 2013-04-10
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-03-01
Growing along the driveway at the Museum of Science and Industry
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2010-04-19
Location: Front Yard
Date: March 6, 2011
Eastern Redbud
Location: My front yard
Date: March 6, 2011
Redbud

Date: April 27, 2011
More pods

Date: March 2011
Flowering Eastern Redbud
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-03-27
So Fork, Sangamon R., cen. Il.
Location: central Illinois
Date: 3-25-12
Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: 2012-05-22
single unripe seed pod

Credit  Alexey Sergeev
Location: Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-11
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) isn't known for producing good fall co
Location: Iowa
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-03-02
Location: Des Plaines, IL
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-05-08
Location: Fairfax, VA | September 2022
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-03-19
Branch section in bud
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2012-04-01
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-11-20
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-11-20
Photo by SongofJoy
Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-04-25

Sapling planted last year
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-29
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-29
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Location: Work area
Date: 2013-0507
Just purchased.
Location: Bluestone Path garden
Date: 2014-0721
Location: Fairfax VA
Date: 2022-06-25
Location: Bluestone Path garden
Date: 2014-0709
View from indoor porch.
Location: Fairfax, VA | May, 2023
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-08-19
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-08-19
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-04-22
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2010-06-11
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-02-16
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-02-16
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-04-24
Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2012-05-05
Green seed pods in spring
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2015-11-13
Location: Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska
Date: 2012-03-27
Redbuds blooming a burned pasture at Indian Cave State Park
Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: 2012-05-22
Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: 2012-05-22
underside of leaf
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-03-23
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2012-03-25
Location: My Yard
Date: 2019-06-02
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2014-10-12
Location: Downingtown Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-10-22
fall foliage
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-05-08
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Date: 2010-08-31
pea-like pods
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-19
Location: NE., Fl.
Date: 2013-10-11 
A young tree generously donated, I'm guessing from a bird droppin
Location: Natural Area in Northern Indiana
Date: Sep 28, 2011 1:19 PM
Location: My yard in Northern KY
Date: 2012-01-28
Two seeds on an open seedpod
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Date: June 5, 2022
Judas tree #101; RAB page 574, 98-4-1; AG p. 147, 32-40-1; LHB pa
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-04-19
Sapling.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2009-01-30
Closeup of the branches and seedpods encased in ice.

photo credit: R. A. Nonenmacher
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-04-24
Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 2015-07-01
Location: Hinsdale, Illinois
Date: summer of 1990's
young, mature specimen
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Date: 2008-04-23
bark and trunk
Photo by sashaapalmer
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Comments:
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 1, 2014 9:28 PM concerning plant:
    Cercis canadensis is a larval host for Henry's Elfin Butterfly and the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.

    In addition, according to NPIN, this flowering tree has special value to native & bumble bees, and provides native bees with nesting structure and materials.
  • Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Dec 9, 2011 10:26 AM concerning plant:
    I love the redbud!! It is usually the first tree to bloom here in the spring. They bloom about the same time as the dogwoods. The roads are so pretty bathed in the reddish flowers and white blooms of the dogwood. It is interesting as the flowers bloom before the heart shaped leaves appear.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Oct 23, 2020 9:21 AM concerning plant:
    The Eastern Redbud is native from southeast Pennsylvania down into central Florida to east & southern Texas to southeast Nebraska, through southern Iowa, through most of Illinois, into southern Michigan back to southern Pennsylvania, growing as an understory tree in woods, usually upland but can be found in lowlands that are not real wet. It grows about 1 to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 40 to 80 years. It usually lives about 40 years in landscapes. It has shallow, fibrous roots which make it easy to transplant. It has very rounded leaves with a terminal point that get a good yellow fall color. Its small pea-like flowers of purplish-pink bloom about 2 to 3 weeks during April to mid-May, and some flowers are even borne right on the trunk. Brown, flat, pea-like pods mature in July and last into December and can make some messiness. Its favorite soil is moist, well-drained, but can tolerate dry soils. It is a very popular and commonly planted smaller, ornamental tree offered by most any conventional or native plant nursery in the Midwest, the South, the Mid-Atlantic, or the Northeast US.
  • Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Sep 29, 2011 4:24 PM concerning plant:
    This is a lovely early spring bloom in Kentucky. They dot the hillsides with their deep rosy color. The black seedpods of fall create quite a show too, and you'll need to watch out for multiple seedlings if the pods are left where they fall.

    Cercis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Jan 27, 2012 3:14 PM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant in early spring.
  • Posted by robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Apr 19, 2013 7:32 PM concerning plant:
    Oklahoma's state tree.
  • Posted by Chillybean (Iowa - Zone 5a) on Aug 13, 2015 1:57 PM concerning plant:
    I wish I could say that I am really enjoying this tree, but I cannot. It died. It very easily could have been something we did or did not do.

    This spring, we purchased a very nice specimen that already had buds on it. The buds opened, fell off, and that was it. No leaves formed. When breaking off branches, they are what we call, "Dead dead." In spite of this setback, I want to give it another try in another location. Those trees are beautiful in the spring and it is such a fun name to say over and over.... Redbud, Redbud.
  • Posted by fiwit (My little patch of paradise - Zone 7b) on Apr 10, 2013 11:57 AM concerning plant:
    Good spring plant for pollinators
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Dec 2, 2011 10:14 PM concerning plant:
    I have only one Eastern Redbud in my garden and I highly recommend this lovely ornamental tree. I like the interesting shape of the pretty heart shaped light green leaves during the summer, but the tree really is beautiful when the bright pink pea like flowers appear in late February to early March. I don't see this tree often in my area and I don't know why unless it's because it's considered a short lived tree with approximately 40 to 50 year life span.
Plant Events from our members
jerseyridgearts On June 13, 2014 Plant emerged
new solid red leaves on oldest tree in shrub border; action?
Catmint20906 On April 22, 2015 Bloomed
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DG Marta (227mama) - qty 1; SSG
aspenhill On September 13, 2014 Obtained plant
DG Susan (Muddy1) - qty 2; SSG, B
WebTucker On March 11, 2022 Bloomed
paleohunter On March 16, 2024 Seeds sown
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Interesting! by dave Apr 2, 2012 6:55 AM 2
wow! by crittergarden Apr 2, 2012 3:42 PM 10
Untitled by pixie62560 Apr 2, 2012 6:29 AM 0
Outstanding! by flaflwrgrl Aug 27, 2014 6:34 PM 3
the tree by gardengus Oct 20, 2014 9:59 AM 1

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