FABACEAE - - Legume Family

Cercis canadensis Linnaeus — Eastern Redbud

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. canadensis) - Redbud, a small tree to 40 ft. in height with a broad rounded head, is one of our most beautiful native ornamental trees, when in early spring, before the leaves unfold, the tree is covered with masses of rosey-pink pealike blossoms. These are followed, later in the year, by the fruits, which are thin, flat pods with sloping ends. The leaves are nearly circular in outline and entire on the margin. The petiole has a bulbous swelling at each end. Bark, at first smooth, becomes very scaly with age.

Habitat:

Moist to dry forests and woodlands, especially over calcareous or mafic rocks, also commonly planted as an ornamental. This spectacular small tree is showy in bud or flower.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

The range of Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.