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Eastern Redbud   arrow

Cercis canadensis (ser’-sis kan-a-den’-sis)
Family: Caesalpiniaceae, Cassia (formerly Fabaceae, legume family)


Key Steps


Description

Redbud leafLeaf: Dark green, heart-shaped base, pointed tip, 2-6 inches long, smooth margin. Leaf is thin, papery. May have tufts of hair in veins axils beneath. 5-7 prominent veins branching from leaf base. Long (up to 4 inches), slender petiole swollen at each end.

Bud: Small, round, purplish-red. Usually more than one bud per leaf scar. True terminal bud absent. Flower buds are larger and in clusters, stalked, even on the branches. 5-6 scales, may have accessory buds; partially covered by leaf scar.

Leaf Scar: Raised, inverted triangle. Fringed with hair at top, 2-3 lines from the scar. 3 raised bundle scars.

Stem: Hairless, slender, smooth, zigzag. Young: dark brown, lustrous. Older: dull, darker.

Bark: Smooth, gray with red streaks. Scaly with age.

Pith: White, often streaked with red. Solid.

Flower: Pinkish-purple, appearing before leaves in April or May, along preceding year’s branches and trunk. Very showy pea-like clusters of blossoms.

Fruit: 2-4 inch long, flat, dark pink-red to purplish bean-like pods. May remain all winter. Usually six seeds.

Habit: Dividing close to ground, low, wide-topped, flat head. Horizontal branching. Can be multi-trunked. 15 to 25 feet tall. Performs poorly in Colorado’s climate, nicknamed “deadbud”.

Culture: Moderate water requirements. Likes a protected location. Intolerant of late spring frosts. Sun or part shade.


Resources

Colorado Master Gardener
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