Common Name: Eastern Redbud

Scientific Name:  Cercis canadensis

This Tree in Colorado: Eastern redbud is another beautiful spring flowering tree common in many communities throughout Colorado. The flowers bloom from flower buds developed along the tree's stems which creates a finer flowering characteristic than crabapples blossoms. The bark of older redbuds is another interesting feature. It becomes blocky and the blocks are somewhat raised giving a coarser textured appearance.

Growth Rate:  Slow to medium growth rate. Redbuds are considered a small tree that reaches a mature height less than 25' in Colorado. Most often this tree develops multiple branches from the base. It can be pruned into a single stem without much effort.

Landscape Use:  The small size and colorful flowers make this another plant suitable for accent plantings.  Redbuds naturally grow nicely in the shade of larger trees and are one of few trees that are shade tolerant. Some cities have used them as street trees if the "tree lawn" (curb to sidewalk) is 8' or larger.  They are beautiful when planted in groups.

Best Advice: Grow in a protected portion of yard. Prefers well drained soils but has shown adaptation to the Rocky Mountain alkaline conditions. Redbuds may require regular pruning in order to form a single stem. Plant in an area where it is allowed to branch and spread as it pleases.

Hardiness:  Redbuds are not native to Colorado. They have a wide range of adaptability in Zone 3(limited) to 9. They are found in many of Colorado's eastern plains communities. They should be planted more in shaded and protected sites.

Leaves:  Leaves are alternate, simple and heart shaped, 3-5" wide.          

Flowers:  Reddish purple bud opening to a rosy-pink. In Colorado, normally open in mid-April and bloom for two to three weeks.  Flowers are produced along older stems and branches. Furit is a small legume, 2" to 4" long, 1/2" wide and   flat. Some newer cultivars can have white flowers (Royal White).


Insects and Disease:  Not really a concern in Colorado at this time. Cankers and leaf chewing insects are known but do not appear to be terribly harmful.

Information Sources:  Dirr, Michael Dr., "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants," 1990

                                        Kuhns, Michael Dr., "A Guide to the Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West," 1998