Cercis occidentalis

Western Redbud

Plant family: Fabaceae - Pea

Rating:

Plant type: Tree

Plant origin: N/A, California

 
Container Avail Qty Add to
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Price
24 inch box natural 0   329.99
Fifteen Gallon 0   129.00
One Gallon 0   14.99
Five gallon - Natural 0   44.99

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Flower Color Light Pink, Pink, Pink to Deep Red
Blooming Season Spring
Height 5-15 feet, 15-25 feet
Spread 5-10 feet, 10-15 feet
Sun / Shade   
Monthly Water
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Wildlife Friendliness Rating
Plant Community > Learn More

Chaparral, Woodland/Forest

Best Soil Conditions > Learn More

Clay, Alkaline

Special Characteristic

Edible , Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerates Hard Frost

Plant Highlights

This is a small but very showy, deciduous tree known for the prolific pink blooms that cover it before the leaves come in. The effect of the masses of flowers is stunning and they turn to small reddish-purple seed pods that hang onto the tree through winter, unless you remove by banging with something like a badminton raquet or other light implement. It is sometimes confused with an Orchid Tree by inexperienced gardeners. It is usually a multi-branched tree, but is also available as a single trunk, or standard. After flowering rounded apple-green leaves announce that spring is here, as the season progresses the leaves turn blue-green. Western Redbud makes a fantastic patio or large container tree, as well as working well in a perennial border, or amongst lilacs, manzanitas, or taller trees. We have read that the flower buds are edible, but have yet to try them.

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Comments

Started from 1 gallon this spring. Growing well in inland East County San Diego on drip irrigation. Hot, dry, and sunny, and windy. Lost another 1 gallon, didn't get it in the ground fast enough and it dried out.

Posed by: Jonathan Fleming, on Jul 12 2019 3:02PM

Rating:
Post:#47