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Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis var. canadensis

Other common name(s):

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

15
to
25
ft.

Spread

15
to
20
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red, Pink

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds, Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Hummingbirds, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

If necessary, prune for shape; Provide well drained soil.

Comments

Blooms March-May. Purply-pink pea blossoms cover trunk and branches before leaves. Heart shaped leaves may turn yellow in fall. Fruit is a tan to purplish pod. Deer Resistant. Larval Host: Henry’s Elfin.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CECAC. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Cercis+canadensis+var.+canadensis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=27177&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 6) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 282. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=527241#null, 8) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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