# Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/cercis-canadensis · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Redbud
- Family: Fabaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 7 m; spread 8 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 4 to 9
- Light: Sun or part shade
- Water: Moderate water
- 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

**Benefits:** Flowers, Pollinators, Fits small spaces, Wildlife, Birds

**Good for:** Small yard, Street tree, parks

**Watch out for:** Short lived, Pest prone, Weak wood

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (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)); AL, United States; AR, United States; FL, United States; GA, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NC, United States; NM, United States; OK, United States; SC, United States; TN, United States; TX, United States (Native in east Texas; the City of Austin Grow Green plant guide says 'Eastern Redbud not recommended' and lists Texas and Mexican redbud instead)
- **Recommended:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); San Jose, CA, United States (On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list); Denver, CO, United States (On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Atlanta, GA, United States (On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list); New York, NY, United States (On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List)

## 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