eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis
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Form & Habitat
eastern redbud form and habitat (early spring) eastern redbud form and habitat (early spring)
Leaves
eastern redbud leaves eastern redbud leaves
Twigs
eastern redbud twig eastern redbud twig eastern redbud twig
Bark
eastern redbud bark
Flowers
eastern redbud flowers eastern redbud flowers eastern redbud flowers eastern redbud flowers eastern redbud flowers eastern redbud flowers
Fruit
eastern redbud fruit eastern redbud fruit eastern redbud fruit
  • FAMILY: FABACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
  • LEAVES: simple, alternate, deciduous; 3-5” diameter, cordate base, acute tip; petioles swollen at leaf-base and node (both ends); leaf folded in half when emerging
  • FLOWER: purplish to pink, pea-shaped; clustered on twigs and stem; flowers before leafing out; tasty in salads
  • FRUIT: legume, 2-4 inches long; flat; persists into winter
  • TWIGS: zigzag, horizontally spreading
  • BARK: scaly, dark, slight purple or red color
  • FORM: small tree, to 30-40 ft; multiple stems, spreading crown
  • HABITAT: well-drained and upland sites; normally an understory species
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: Obligate Upland (UPL): Almost never occurs in wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
  • RANGE: eastern US
  • USES: ornamental; does not fix nitrogen
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. numerous flat legumes, 2-4 inches long
    2. reniform leaf with cordate base, palmate venation
    3. purplish-to-pink flowers and buds clustered on twigs and stems
    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources

    School of Renewable Natural Reources    		 Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours
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    page revised: 26-Jun-2019 1:23 PM  msb    		 LSU AgCenter

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