Did you know that redbuds are sometimes called Judas trees? Or that they sometimes produce white blossoms instead of red ones? Keep reading to learn more about these and other redbud tree key facts.
Quick Facts About Redbud Trees
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Cercis |
| Description: | Small flowering trees that produce clusters of showy pink or purple flowers in early spring. Leaves are heart-shaped and turn yellow in the fall. Brown seed pods are similar in shape to snow peas and drop their seeds in the winter. Wood is reddish-brown and covered in grayish-brown, shallow-ridged bark. Trees often have three or four trunks emerging from their base. |
| Average Height: | 20 to 30 feet |
| Average Lifespan: | 20 to 25 years |
| Distribution: | Central and eastern North America |
| Native Habitat: | Mixed forests and woodland areas, thickets, streamsides, and bluffs |
| Number of Species: | Uncertain; at least 10 to 15 |
| Properties: | – Hardwood – Deciduous – Medicinal |
| Uses: | – Often planted as ornamental trees – Wood is useful for small-scale woodworking projects and firewood – Buds, flowers, and seed pods are all edible and nutritious – Bark and roots have been used in traditional medicine for coughs, colds, and fevers |
What Are Redbud Trees?
Redbud trees are deciduous trees that grow throughout much of the eastern half of North America. They are known for their bright flower clusters, which appear in early spring and range from light pink to magenta to lavender.
Redbud trees are small, rarely growing larger than 20 to 30 feet with a 15- to 35-foot spread. They typically have short lifespans of 20 to 25 years, though occasionally they live 50 years or longer.
Redbuds grow well in the wild in moist, forested areas. They are also commonly planted as ornamentals in urban areas, and they can grow in many different soil types.
The pretty spring flowers become green seed pods which turn brown in summer and fall. Heart-shaped leaves may be reddish in color when they emerge, turn green or purple in late spring and summer, and turn yellow, orange, or red in the fall.
In addition to their ornamental value, redbud trees produce a pretty hardwood that can be used for crafts and small projects. Parts of the tree are edible, while other parts have medicinal value and were used in traditional medicine to treat common ailments like coughs and fevers.
Check out this video to find out more about redbud trees:
Interesting Redbud Tree Facts
- Some species of redbud tree produce white flowers instead of the usual pink-to-purple color.
- Redbuds are sometimes called Judas trees because, according to tradition, it is said that Judas Iscariot hung himself from a redbud tree.
- Redbud trees are host plants for the larvae of various moths and butterflies, including the Io moth, Henry’s elfin butterfly, and fall webworm.
- Redbuds belong to the same scientific family as peas and other legumes; their flowers look similar to pea flowers and produce snow-pea-shaped seed pods.
- Redbuds grow well in both sun and partial shade, but they produce more flowers when they receive greater amounts of sunlight.
Conclusion
Redbud trees grow in many areas of eastern North America and produce bright, showy blooms each spring. These popular ornamental trees are small and short-lived but thrive in many different soil types and environments. Check out here our comparison vs cherry blossom tree.