Cercis canadensis: Red Bud

Common Name:

Red Bud, Forest Pansy

Identification:

Recognized by unlobed heart-shaped leaves with entire margin and 5, sometimes 7, prominent veins arising from one place at base of blade; by petioles swollen at both ends. Can get up to 20-40 feet tall, and trunk diameter from 3-10 inches. Spreading to rounded crowns of 12-15 feet. Twigs usually zigzag, the end bud axillary, buds with 2 hairy keeled scales, axillary buds often superposed. Flowers normally appearing before the leaves. Flowers range in color pink to purple. Fruits flat pods 3-10 cm long, 8-18 mm broad, containing several hard shiny seeds in a row, tardily splitting along one edge, falling in late autumn or winter. Leaves are pure yellow in the fall. Trunks may be single or multi-stemmed, and older trunks may become reddish-brown in color.

Geography:

Extends into west Texas and northeast Mexico. There is another species in southwest US, 5 in China, and 1 in Europe and west Asia. Does best in moist habitats, but occurs in dry sites. To about 670 m elevation in southeast. Frequently an understory tree in hardwood forests, but also occurs in the open.

General Information:

Only bobwhite and a few songbirds are known to eat the seeds. Planted as an ornamental, but produces many seedlings and can become a pest. The redbud is a member of the pea family due to its pod-shaped fruit.

Written for your pleasure by:

David Peterson, Antonio Sanders, Valyncia Smith, Diane Sullivan, Brian Wages, & Shateiara Williams

References: