Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Legume Family Eastern Redbud is a small, deciduous understory tree native throughout much of the southeast. A harbinger of spring, its bare branches burst with joyful, vividly pink flowers before its lime-green, heart-shaped leaves appear. The flowers are edible and are followed by distinctive, flattened seed pods that mature from green to brown and often persist on the branches into winter. The seeds are a food source for birds and small mammals. Eastern Redbud is fast-growing and adaptable to a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, although plants typically produce the heaviest bloom in sunnier locations. Eastern Redbud makes an excellent tree for smaller landscapes or woodland planting. Blooms: Pink, 4-6 weeks, March-May Leaves: Bright green, 3-5" heart-shaped with smooth margins, yellow fall color Height: 20-30’ Space: 25-35’ Soil: Average-Moist Exposure: Full sun-Part sun-Part shade Fauna: Pollinators, host for several species of Lepidoptera, leaves for leafcutter bees, seeds for animals Seeds: 2-4" oblong seedpods hang from branches and turn brown when ripe Deer Resistance: Low Zone: 4-9 Native Status: NC Native, rare in the Coastal Plain, common in the Piedmont and Mountains Provenance: NC, seed grown Public Domain Photos: 1 by Jack Andrew, 2 by Najah Bowlby, 3 by Paul Veal Noah