Eastern Redbud Tree

The Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) is a small, deciduous tree It is often used for its ornamental value in landscapes It usually has a rounded crown and grows to a height of 15–30 feet, with young trees having an upright form The trunk is short and often crooked The leaves are heart-shaped and are green to reddish-bronze in the spring In the late spring, the tree blooms with two-inch, pea-like, rosy-pink flowers that are arranged in clusters along the branches The flowers are followed by flat, bean-like seeds During the summer and fall, the leaves change to a golden bronze color, and in the winter they become a dark maroon This tree is quite cold-hardy, able to withstand temperatures of -26°F with little or no damage