eastern redbud Fabaceae Cercis canadensis L. symbol: CECA4 Leaf: Alternate, simple, cordate in shape, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, with an entire margin, thin and papery, petioles conspicuously swollen on both ends; green above and slightly paler below. Flower: Very showy, pea-like, pink to light purple in color, 1/2 inch long, appearing in clusters all along even older stems in early spring before the leaves. Fruit: Flattened, dry legumes, brown, 2 to 4 inches long that contain flat, elliptical, brown seeds 1/4 inch long, maturing in late summer. Twig: Slender and zigzag, nearly black in color, spotted with lighter lenticels, leaf buds are tiny and dark red to chestnut in color; flowers buds are round and often numerous in large clusters on older woody stems. Bark: Initially smooth and brown; later ridged and furrowed to scaly and dark gray; may have some maroon patches evident and orange in the cracks. Form: A large shrub or small tree up to 30 feet with a short, often twisted trunk and spreading branches. Looks like: western redbud - Chinese redbud Additional Range Information: Cercis canadensis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting eastern redbud. More: Fall Color External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database Horticulture © Copyright 2014, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson