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Cercis canadensis Observations
(eastern redbud)
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Introduction to the NPN Native Species Observation Program
Eastern redbud is a small, short-lived deciduous tree found throughout the eastern United States. Redbud is also known as Judas-tree. Eastern redbud is a strikingly conspicuous tree in the spring because it flowers before other tree leaves form. Redbud flowers are pink to reddish purple, and rarely white. Flowers precede leafing and are produced from small buds on old twigs, branches, and trunks. Flowers are bisexual and the tree is self-pollinating. Fruits are flat reddish-brown pods about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) wide and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) long. Each fruit contains 4 to 10 brown, hard, compressed bean-like seeds, each about 6mm (0.25 in) long. The fruits remain on the tree until after leaf fall; some persist throughout winter.
Source: Silvics of North America, Volume 2: Hardwoods.
You should record when five well-defined phenological events occur for redbud:
- Beginning of flowering, first flowers open (BF) is the date when in at least three places on the plant the first flowers have opened completely
(Photo by Mrs. W.D. Bransford, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Native Plant Information Network Image Gallery).
- Sprouting of leaves (SL) is the date when the buds begin to burst open in at least three places on the plant under observation. The first green is visible on the young spring shoots and the first scales may fall off the buds.
- Beginning of the unfolding of leaves, first leaf surfaces visible (UL) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation first leaves have pushed themselves completely out of the bud or leaf sheath. The leaves have unfolded completely, so that the leaf stalk or leaf base is visible (sometimes only recognizable by bending back the young leaf). At this point, the individual leaf has taken its ultimate form, but has not yet reached its final size.
- Fruit ripe (FR) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation, the fruit shows the coloring characteristics of the plant variety (i.e., is ripe), and can be easily removed (i.e., is ready to fall from the plant)
(Photo by Norman G. Flaigg, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Native Plant Information Network Image Gallery).
- Coloring of leaves (CL) is the date when approximately 50% of the leaves (including those that have fallen to the ground) have taken on the colors of autumn.
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Please record average dates for each event among multiple plants of the same species. Report by email if any plant appears in poor health or event dates for same-species plants vary by more than a few days.
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