Redbud is Ready for Spring
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter
As signs of spring fill the air, I find myself eagerly anticipating the vibrant magenta pink blooms of one of our most beautiful flowering trees, the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). This small tree is a common sight along roadsides, woodland edges, and old fields in Virginia in late March and early April when its showy flowers create a lovely haze of magenta in the spring landscape.
Eastern Redbuds are one of the most beloved deciduous understory trees. They are a member of the Pea Family with distinctive rosy-purple pea-like flowers that bloom profusely from the bare branches before the tree leaves emerge. The individual flowers are held together in tight clusters creating an incredibly dramatic spring show. The buds have the amazing ability to emerge directly from the bark of the trunk and bare branches in a process called “cauliflory” or “stem flower”. Each one-half inch flower consists of an upper petal, two flared wing petals and a pair of lower petals fused into a keel or lip and are sometimes described as looking like little rosy hummingbirds.
Redbuds grow quickly, reaching 15 – 30’ in height with a spread of 20 – 35’. Often branched low to the ground, multiple graceful trunks grow in a graceful vase shape with tiered branches adding architecture and interest year-round. The bark is thin and brown developing dark brown scaly ridges and narrow furrows. Twigs are reddish brown with a distinctive zigzag pattern between the alternate leaves.
As the flowers fade, the distinctive heart-shaped leaves emerge; at first small, shiny, and tinged a beautiful bronzy- red, and hang along the branches like little valentines. Within a few weeks, the leaves fade to a lovely soft matte green and mature to 4” to 6” in width, adding an unmistakable bold texture to the landscape. In fall, leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow green to bright yellow for a second show before falling and revealing the flattened 4” long seedpods, typical of legumes. These pods turn from green to brown as fall progresses and sometimes can be surprisingly dense, persisting into winter and adding interest to the landscape not to mention food for wildlife.
Redbuds are well known for their large geographic range extending from New York and Connecticut, west to Iowa and south to Florida and west along the Gulf coast to Texas and south into Mexico. Individual redbuds may vary in hardiness and other attributes, depending on the region they evolved in, so it is always best to obtain a tree from a regional source.
Found in a variety of habitats from rich, moist forests, to dry barrens, and from woodlands along waterways to old fields and roadsides, redbuds are adaptable trees. They occur most commonly on calcareous soils but also do well on acidic soils. Redbuds are easy to grow, especially when transplanted at small sizes, and are relatively fast growing. They tolerate part shade to sun but the more sun, the more prolific the showy blooms will be. Redbuds prefer moist but well drained soils and do not tolerate poorly drained soils. They may live to be 50 or 75 years old but can be susceptible to cankers when stressed. They are often seen in Virginia along our roadsides bringing an eye-catching rose color to our travels in early spring.
Redbuds are an important source of nectar and pollen for early pollinators. While in bloom, they often “hum” with dozens of native bumble bees, carpenter bees, and other pollen specialists. Bumble bee Queens rely on early-blooming Redbuds as a favored nectar and pollen source, as they create a new colony each spring. They collect the pollen to make “pollen bread” on which they lay their eggs so that the larvae have a protein-rich food source when they emerge. Hummingbirds are also attracted to the nectar. Redbuds host 12 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars which in turn are critical components of baby songbird diets. The seeds are eaten by many adult birds. Humans too can get in on the feast. The flowers are edible and a great source of vitamin C and can make tasty and beautiful additions to salads, as do the young seedpods.
Redbuds make a splendid specimen tree in any garden but are also lovely planted in loose drifts along woodland edges. Consider combining them with flowering dogwoods or near the chartreuse flowers of early blooming Spicebush. As a finishing touch, underplant them with spring native wildflowers like Golden Ragwort, Spring Beauty, or Wild Blue Phlox and small flowering bulbs to enhance this spring spectacle. You will rejoice in the beauty this tree offers throughout the year.
All photos by Betsy Washington
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) was the Northern Neck Native Plant Society March 2021 Plant of the Month and the VNPS 2013 Wildflower of the Year.
I just planted a Redbud yesterday in our front yard.
Great article. Thanks for posting.
I find leaves with symetrical leaf damage on my redbuds, I assume from caterpillars. I have good pics of leaves collected in previous years. Would be interested to learn who does this.
Leaf cutter bees make those precise holes in leaves. See this: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/megachile_bees.shtml
I had the pleasure of receiving my previously unknown tree from the Arbor Society for filling out a questionnaire! I couldn’t remember what it was supposed to be. And, also, Bless It’s Heart, it was the only tree that survived to get planted. She’s still young, maybe 2 1/2 years old soooo…
In a couple of more years she’ll bloom! I can hardly wait!!! My Tree of Hearts!
We have five Redbuds. I plan to plant many more from the seeds that are present on the trees I have and possibly sell some.
I am in search of a “White bud” tree. Same characteristics as red bud. Absolutely beautiful with pure white blossoms on branches.
One of my redbud trees has its bark peeling . Its this normal or is the tree dying?
Any suggestions on transplanting redbuds. I have one that’s about 6 feet tall, and I want to move it about 25 feet , close to iris flowers. Do they have a tap root? Thank you Glenn Parker
Your article on the redbud is very informative. I live here in Huntington, W.Va and the redbuds are always welcome and a good sign Spring has arrived. Of course I love seeing the white dogwoods and pink ones also. It’s like a rebirth sent down from God above. I’m
In my 70’s now so I mostly look forward to the so much days ahead and seeing the nice daffodils, tulips and other flowers blooming. I love it but, realize life will end in Winter and all the things I love will become dormant til the next Spring. Thank you
I’m wondering whether there is a bush version of this beautiful tree. I have three doggie graves about 15 feet apart, partial sun. I tried dogwood bushes (obviously) to mark them, but they all died. Thank you for any recommendations.
I think I saw a weeping red bud that stays small. There was something about training the branches. Not sure. I am trying to identify a tree that is similar to the red bud but I’m not quite sure if it is or not.
Wondering why there aren’t any replies on this page.