Redbud - Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis - How to grow Redbud -

This lovely small flowering tree has popped into bloom here in April, that's generally around the flowering range although this year's a little early for us. Most things are popping into bloom seven to ten days earlier than normal but the Eastern Redbud is a wonderful small flowering tree that gets about anywhere from twenty to twenty five feet tall with a breadth that is far greater.
It can often reach twice its height in breadth, for example here by Greeley Memorial Laboratory here at Marsh Botanical Gardens has a spread of just over thirty feet. The purple to violet to mauve flowers of the American Redbud come directly off of the stems and the bark of the trunk. They last anywhere from a week to ten days depending on the weather. They are slightly fragrant and they are quite edible. They are eaten fresh, and also used in pickle relish in the Appalachian Mountains. While the flowers are edible the seeds are not. The heart shaped leaves emerge after the flowers have fallen and are a beautiful new green all summer long and in the fall they turn a wonderful yellow color.
Redbuds belong to the bean family, Fabaceae, and they belong to a tribe within that family. There are a number of species world wide: Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud, there's the Redbud that you find in the West, Cercis occidentals, there are several species that are native to Asia, Cercis chinensis, Cercis racemosa and one species that is native to the Mediterranean region, Cercis siliquastrum. That plant that is native to the Mediterranean region had a Greek name, Kerkis from which the genus name Cercis comes.
You what to plant Redbud in well drained soil. It's an edge of woods plant so full sun is ok but if you have a little afternoon shade that's good too. It's a wonderful plant backed up by evergreens. It's definitely one to have in the garden, the spring display is a fantastic show.
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