2601 Walnut Blvd. Brentwood, CA 94513

Cercis Redbud

Call us at (925) 516-1052 to check availability

Cercis Redbud is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, native to eastern North America from Southern Ontario, Canada south to northern Florida but can thrive as far west as California.

It typically grows to 20–30 ft tall with a 26–33 ft spread. It generally has a short, often twisted trunk and spreading branches. A 10-year-old tree will generally be around 16 ft tall. The bark is dark in color, smooth, later scaly with ridges somewhat apparent, sometimes with maroon patches.

The twigs are slender and zigzag, nearly black in color, spotted with lighter lenticels. The winter buds are tiny, rounded and dark red to chestnut in color. The leaves are alternate, simple, heart shaped with an entire margin, 3-5 inches long and wide, thin and papery, and may be slightly hairy below.

The flowers are showy, light to dark magenta pink in color, 0.5 inch long, appearing in clusters from Spring to early Summer, on bare stems before the leaves, sometimes on the trunk itself. The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees such as blueberry bees and carpenter bees. Short-tongued bees apparently cannot reach the nectaries. The fruit are flattened, dry, brown, pea-like pods, 2-4 inch long that contain flat, elliptical, brown seeds ¼ inch long, maturing in August to October.

  • Specifics
Plant Type: 
Deciduous Trees
Height: 
20–30 feet
Spread: 
26–33 feet