Redbud Trees
Cercis spp.
Family: Fabaceae
CHARACTERISTICS
Small, deciduous trees usually reaching about 15-25’ tall. Pink flowers appear before the leaves in early spring which are followed by legume seed pods. Mexican redbuds (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana) has dark, wavy, leathery leaves. Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) is similar but with slightly less shiny leaves, and slightly less wavy. Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) has much larger leaves than all three.
LANDSCAPE USE
Accent tree, patio tree. Great in large containers.
GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED
SUN can tolerate full sun, but may have burned leaves when young. Afternoon shade is best.
WATER moderate water
SOIL amended soil with good drainage best
HARDINESS hardy to 0°F
BASIN terrace zone
CONTAINER this plant does moderately well in containers
NUTRITION moderate
MAINTENANCE remove dead branches from previous year in late spring
Photo of Petey Mesquitey and Cercocarpus canadensis var. mexicana by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
ECOLOGY
Bumblebee pollinated (nectar-rich flowers) but also loved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and other nectar-seeking insects. Larval host for numerous Lepidoptera including the Henry’s elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici) and many moths like the Io Moth (Automeris io). Granivorous birds enjoy the seeds. Important species for native bees because of early spring blooming. Cercis fossils have been found that date to the Eocene.
ETHNOBOTANY
In Mexico, the flowers are eaten pickled in salads or fried. There are also some reports that Native American groups formerly ate the flowers and beans. In the 19th century it was used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and various ailments of the reproductive organs and mucous membranes. In the 20th century it has been recommended for use as an astringent and to treat stomach irritation and diarrhea. A treatment for dysentery is made by extracting an astringent extract from the bark. The wood is medium weight, somewhat brittle, of light tan color with a noticeably large heartwood area of darker brown, tinged with red. The wood has attractive figuring and is used in wood turning, for making decorative items and in the production of wood veneer.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
United States and Northern Mexico, usually as a forest understory.
TAXONOMY AND NAME
This species is in the Fabaceae, the legume family. There are ten accepted species in the genus Cercis, native to warm temperate regions.
The name for the genus, Cercis (pronounced SER-sis) came from the Greek kerkis, the name for a species of redbud that occurs in Europe. Canadensis, Texensis and Mexicana all refer to the obvious place names. The other species, occidentalis, means western, referring to the part of North America it is native to.
Mexican redbud (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana) is native to southwest Texas to northeastern Mexico. Photo of young tree in spring with Petey Mesquitey by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) is found in southern Oklahoma, Trans-Pecos Texas, Southeastern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico. Young tree in summer, photo by bessgraham on iNaturalist
Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is primarily found in Northern California, with other populations in parts of Utah and Arizona. Photo of a fairly mature tree by cbarritt1 on iNaturalist
Arizona Redbud Cercis orbiculata is found on the dry slopes on coast ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills in the southwestern United States, as well as along stream banks, canyons, and yellow-pine forests. It is frequently seen in the Grand Canyon. Photo by nicole_ama, iNaturalist