Cercis canadensis

Eastern Redbud

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]

Family: Fabaceae (Legume (Pea) family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: March - May
Mid-Atlantic fruit ripe: June - November

The Eastern Redbud is a showy early bloomer that grows well in shade. In addition to its usual purple-pink flowers produced on stems, it can also produce flowers directly on mature trunks and branches, a habit termed "cauliflory".

One of the fun things about Eastern Redbud flowers is that they can resemble miniature pink hummingbirds! (see the last row of photos for examples of this)

20 June 2014 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	24 April 2015 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	24 April 2015 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	27 March 2024 Conway Robinson State Forest, Gainesville, VA (developing flower buds)
24 April 2015 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	28 March 2016 Centreville, VA (showing cauliflory flowers on branch)	28 March 2016 Centreville, VA (showing cauliflory flowers)	20 June 2014 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (ripening seed pods)
6 April 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA (hummingbird-shaped flower)	6 April 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA (hummingbird-shaped flower)	6 April 2026 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA (hummingbird-shaped flower)

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