Eastern redbud

Scientific name: Cercis canadensis

Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)

Eastern Redbud is abundant in the southern two-thirds of Ohio, with scattered distribution in the northern one-third of the state. It heralds the arrival of spring with its showy, lavender-pink flowers that typically open in April, long before the foliage emerges. Redbuds grow rapidly and often live about twenty years before they begin to decline or die, especially in urban situations where poorly drained, heavy clay soils predominate.

Identification

LEAF: Simple, alternate heart-shaped leaves, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, with smooth, entire margins. Fall color is often green well into late autumn, but in some years chartreuse to yellow leaves occur before leaf drop.

TWIGS AND BUDS: The twigs of the eastern redbud are zig-zag, changing in color from light green to reddish brown as they mature. They may have white lenticels when mature. The leaf buds are dark brown, with scales and a rounded ovate shape. Flower buds sprout from mature branches.

FLOWER: Conspicuous bright-red flowers bloom in early spring (around April) and are anywhere from pink to red to purple in color. 

FRUIT OR SEED: After flowering, this plant has green turning to brown, flat, oblong seedpods (with about 9 seeds per pod) which are about 2 to 4 inches long. 

BARK: Dark brown to black with orange inner bark that can be visible. Smooth when young, but developing long, narrow plates that separate into scales as the tree matures.

SHAPE: Vase shape with a rounded crown. It commonly has a leaning growth habit, trying to grow into as much sunlight as possible.

MATURE HEIGHT: 20-30 feet.

Information credits: NC State Extension, ODNR

Photo credits: ©Arthur Haines (Native Plant Trust), Tim McCormack, David J. Stang, Paul S. Drobot, William Culina, Arieh Tal (https://botphoto.info)