Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Clouds of magenta pea flowers wreathe its bare branches in early spring, followed by heart-shaped leaves and showy red seedpods. A drought-tough multi-trunk beauty. Like eastern redbud, the flowers are a tart, edible garnish, the buds can be pickled like capers, and the seedpods and seeds are roasted and cooked.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 12–12 ft
- Spacing
- 15–25 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- dry, moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- March, April
- Bloom colors
- red
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators, songbirds
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~19 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, hedge or screen
- Native states
- AZ, CA, NV, OR, UT