Plant Profile: Cercis siliquastrum

Taxonomy: Cercis siliquastrum

Names

Judas Tree, Love Tree, Mediterranean Redbud

  • Photo of Cercis siliquastrum (Cercis siliquastrums)

Phonetic Spelling:SER-sis sil-ee-KWAS-trum

Genus:Cercis

Species:siliquastrum

Family:Fabaceae

The Mediterranean Redbud, as its name suggests, originates from the Mediterranean region. This tree features multiple trunks and thrives in drier environments, showcasing its drought-resistant nature. With a rounded canopy, it typically reaches heights between 15 and 25 feet. Notably, its blossoms are larger than those of most other Redbuds, emerging in the spring before the leaves unfurl.

This tree is well-suited for various settings, including woodlands, streetscapes, as a standout specimen, or in clusters. However, it is advisable to consider planting the native Redbud instead, as it is better suited to our local climate.

In terms of potential issues, this tree may experience damage from deer.

Cercis siliquastrum Feature Summary

Cercis siliquastrum Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#tree
#nectar plant
#spring flowers
#specialized bees
#pollinator plant
#bird friendly
#dry soils tolerant
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Cercis siliquastrum Feature Summary

Attributes
France to Eastern Mediteranean
The flowers provide nectar for bees and once pollinated form leguminous pods, the seed can be consumed by birds. Members of the genus Cercis support the following specialized bee: Habropoda laboriosa
The flowers are edible and purportedly have a sweet-acid taste.
Fruit
4-inch long showy purple leguminous flat seedpods mature in late summer and last well into winter.
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Summer
Fall
Winter
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Flowers
3-5 inch clusters of 3/4 inch magenta pea-shaped flowers in early spring before the foliage appears. Blooms on older growth and covers branches and sometimes the trunk.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
Nearly round heart-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches wide and long. Young leaves are bronzy-red in spring, deep green in summer and yellow to yellow bronze in fall.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Cordate
Orbicular
3-6 inches
3-6 inches
Bark
Dark grey furrowed bark
Dark Gray
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Multi-stemmed
Rounded
Erect
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Cercis siliquastrum Attributes

Cercis siliquastrum: Country Or Region Of Origin

France to Eastern Mediteranean

Cercis siliquastrum: Wildlife Value

The flowers provide nectar for bees and once pollinated form leguminous pods, the seed can be consumed by birds. Members of the genus Cercis support the following specialized bee: Habropoda laboriosa

Cercis siliquastrum: Edibility

The flowers are edible and purportedly have a sweet-acid taste.

Cercis siliquastrum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cercis siliquastrum Fruit

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Description

4-inch long showy purple leguminous flat seedpods mature in late summer and last well into winter.

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Purple/Lavender

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cercis siliquastrum: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Cercis siliquastrum: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Cercis siliquastrum Flowers

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Description

3-5 inch clusters of 3/4 inch magenta pea-shaped flowers in early spring before the foliage appears. Blooms on older growth and covers branches and sometimes the trunk.

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Cercis siliquastrum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Cercis siliquastrum Leaves

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Description

Nearly round heart-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches wide and long. Young leaves are bronzy-red in spring, deep green in summer and yellow to yellow bronze in fall.

Cercis siliquastrum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Red/Burgundy

Cercis siliquastrum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Gold/Yellow

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Cercis siliquastrum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Cercis siliquastrum: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cercis siliquastrum Bark

Cercis siliquastrum: Bark Description

Dark grey furrowed bark

Cercis siliquastrum: Bark Color

grass
Dark Gray

Cercis siliquastrum Whole Plant Traits

Cercis siliquastrum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cercis siliquastrum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cercis siliquastrum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cercis siliquastrum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Cercis siliquastrum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cercis siliquastrum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Cercis siliquastrum Cultural Conditions

Cercis siliquastrum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cercis siliquastrum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Cercis siliquastrum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cercis siliquastrum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Cercis siliquastrum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Cercis siliquastrum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Cercis siliquastrum Stem

Cercis siliquastrum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cercis siliquastrum Landscape

Cercis siliquastrum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Cercis siliquastrum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cercis siliquastrum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Cercis siliquastrum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees