{"slug":"cercis-canadensis","scientific_name":"Cercis canadensis","common_names":["Eastern redbud","Redbud"],"family":"Fabaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":7,"mature_spread_m":8,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[4,9],"sun":"full_partial","water":"medium","soil":"Moist, fertile, well-drained soil of almost any pH; does not tolerate wet feet","native_range":"Eastern and central North America from Pennsylvania and Nebraska south to Florida, Texas and eastern Mexico","description":"A beloved small flowering tree (20-30 feet) with rose-pink flowers crowding bare branches in early spring and big heart-shaped leaves. The eastern form has thin leaves that scorch in Texas heat and it is short-lived (often under 75 years, and much less in hot climates). Austin's Grow Green guide says plainly that eastern redbud is not recommended; plant the Texas or Mexican variety instead.","care":"Plant in well-drained soil with afternoon shade in hot climates and keep it watered until established and through summer droughts. Prune out dead wood as needed; branches are brittle, so give it a sheltered spot. Canker, verticillium wilt and borers are common and shorten its life. Sensitive to herbicides and lawn chemicals.","benefits":["flowers","pollinators","small_space","wildlife","birds"],"uses":["small_yard","street_tree","parks"],"cautions":["short_lived","pest_prone","weak_wood"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/RedbudOhio02.jpg","image_credit":"Greg Hume, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CECA4","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cercis-canadensis/","https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/redbud-texas"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/cercis-canadensis","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/cercis-canadensis.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"AR","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"NM","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"TN","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native in east Texas; the City of Austin Grow Green plant guide says 'Eastern Redbud not recommended' and lists Texas and Mexican redbud instead","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/CECA4"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Los Angeles","status":"recommended","note":"On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List","source_url":"https://www.cityplants.org/street-tree-species-list/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"San Jose","status":"recommended","note":"On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list","source_url":"https://www.ourcityforest.org/nursery-species"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"NY","locality":"New York","status":"recommended","note":"On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List","source_url":"https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/species-list"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}