Western Redbud

(Cercis occidentalis)

Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America

CC BY 2.0

Image By: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 | Uploader: Josve05a | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: H20130321-7147—Cercis_occidentalis—RPBG-1_(8608896016).jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{fr|1=Plante}} |Source={{own}} |Author=[[User:Katia974|Katia974]] |Date=1/12/10 |Permission= |other_versions= }} |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Cercis occidentalis, commonly known as Western Redbud or California Redbud, is a deciduous small tree or shrub in the Fabaceae family. It is native to chaparral, woodland margins, and dry slopes of the American Southwest, including California, Utah, and Arizona, typically below 3,600 feet (1,100 meters). The Western Redbud reaches a height of 12-25 feet and a width of 8-12 feet, with a rounded form and spreading branches. From March to May, it is adorned with showy clusters of bright pink to magenta flowers before the appearance of heart-shaped leaves, which turn yellow in the fall. The bark is smooth and gray, and seedpods persist into winter, providing visual interest.

The Western Redbud is valued for its vibrant floral display, ease of maintenance, and adaptability to drought conditions, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping. It is used in parks, gardens, and as a street tree, and is particularly effective in native plant and wildlife gardens where its flowers attract pollinators. It thrives in full sun to light shade and prefers well-drained soils, tolerating a range of soil types from sandy to clay. While generally disease-resistant, it can be susceptible to fungal diseases in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 12-25 feet
Width: 8-12 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Pink
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Chaparral, woodland margins, and dry slopes below 3,600 feet (1,100 meters)

Other Names

Common Names: California Redbud, Judas Tree, California Redbud

Scientific Names: , Cercis occidentalis, Cercis californica, Cercis nephrophylla, Cercis latissima, Cercis arizonica, Siliquastrum occidentale,

GBIF Accepted Name: Cercis occidentalis Torr. ex A.Gray