Posted by
Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 1, 2014 9:28 PM concerning plant:
Cercis canadensis is a larval host for Henry's Elfin Butterfly and the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.
In addition, according to NPIN, this flowering tree has special value to native & bumble bees, and provides native bees with nesting structure and materials.
Posted by
gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Dec 9, 2011 10:26 AM concerning plant:
I love the redbud!! It is usually the first tree to bloom here in the spring. They bloom about the same time as the dogwoods. The roads are so pretty bathed in the reddish flowers and white blooms of the dogwood. It is interesting as the flowers bloom before the heart shaped leaves appear.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Oct 23, 2020 9:21 AM concerning plant:
The Eastern Redbud is native from southeast Pennsylvania down into central Florida to east & southern Texas to southeast Nebraska, through southern Iowa, through most of Illinois, into southern Michigan back to southern Pennsylvania, growing as an understory tree in woods, usually upland but can be found in lowlands that are not real wet. It grows about 1 to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 40 to 80 years. It usually lives about 40 years in landscapes. It has shallow, fibrous roots which make it easy to transplant. It has very rounded leaves with a terminal point that get a good yellow fall color. Its small pea-like flowers of purplish-pink bloom about 2 to 3 weeks during April to mid-May, and some flowers are even borne right on the trunk. Brown, flat, pea-like pods mature in July and last into December and can make some messiness. Its favorite soil is moist, well-drained, but can tolerate dry soils. It is a very popular and commonly planted smaller, ornamental tree offered by most any conventional or native plant nursery in the Midwest, the South, the Mid-Atlantic, or the Northeast US.
Posted by
Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Sep 29, 2011 4:24 PM concerning plant:
This is a lovely early spring bloom in Kentucky. They dot the hillsides with their deep rosy color. The black seedpods of fall create quite a show too, and you'll need to watch out for multiple seedlings if the pods are left where they fall.
Cercis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.
Posted by
Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Jan 27, 2012 3:14 PM concerning plant:
Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant in early spring.
Posted by
robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Apr 19, 2013 7:32 PM concerning plant:
Oklahoma's state tree.
Posted by
Chillybean (Iowa - Zone 5a) on Aug 13, 2015 1:57 PM concerning plant:
I wish I could say that I am really enjoying this tree, but I cannot. It died. It very easily could have been something we did or did not do.
This spring, we purchased a very nice specimen that already had buds on it. The buds opened, fell off, and that was it. No leaves formed. When breaking off branches, they are what we call, "Dead dead." In spite of this setback, I want to give it another try in another location. Those trees are beautiful in the spring and it is such a fun name to say over and over.... Redbud, Redbud.
Posted by
fiwit (My little patch of paradise - Zone 7b) on Apr 10, 2013 11:57 AM concerning plant:
Good spring plant for pollinators
Posted by
plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Dec 2, 2011 10:14 PM concerning plant:
I have only one Eastern Redbud in my garden and I highly recommend this lovely ornamental tree. I like the interesting shape of the pretty heart shaped light green leaves during the summer, but the tree really is beautiful when the bright pink pea like flowers appear in late February to early March. I don't see this tree often in my area and I don't know why unless it's because it's considered a short lived tree with approximately 40 to 50 year life span.