Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis · Fabaceae (Legume, Pea, or Bean family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Cordate (heart-shaped) with an entire, slightly pointed apex
Margin
Entire (smooth, unbroken edge)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Palmate venation with several primary veins radiating outward from the base of the leaf stalk
Key Features
Distinctive heart-shaped leaves with palmate venation, zigzag twigs, smooth dark bark that develops ridges with age, and brilliant pink flowers borne in clusters directly on older wood (cauliflory)
Description
The Eastern Redbud is a small, often multi-trunked deciduous understory tree celebrated for its brilliant magenta-pink pea-like flowers that bloom directly on the bare branches and trunk in early spring before the leaves emerge. Following the bloom, it produces lush, heart-shaped green leaves that provide a graceful canopy throughout the summer, eventually turning a soft yellow in autumn. It produces flat, bean-like seed pods that persist through winter.
Habitat
Understory of deciduous forests, woodland borders, along streams, and in moist or well-drained soils under partial shade to full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, stretching from southern Ontario south to northern Florida, and west to Texas and the Great Plains