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Violetsblew

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower, form by Stan Shebs

Photo by Stan ShebsView Original Photo

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower by Stan Shebs

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower, foliage, macro by Stan Shebs

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower by Dancing Oaks Nursery

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower by J.G. in SF

Photo of Cercis occidentalis foliage by J.G. in SF

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower by Far Reaches Farm

Photo of Cercis occidentalis foliage by Keeping it Green Nursery

Photo of Cercis occidentalis flower by Cactus Jungle

Photo of Cercis occidentalis foliage by The Watershed Nursery

Photo of Cercis occidentalis by Cistus Nursery

Buy Cercis occidentalis

Also Known As

California Redbud
Western Redbud

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 10'-20'
W: 12'

planting zones

7a-9b

2-4 inch bagged root ball | $18

UPS shipping based on order size & location

Fewer than 25 at Cistus Nursery

1 gallon | $49

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

77 at Forestfarm

More Options

Cercis occidentalis plant details

Cercis occidentalis is a broadleaf deciduous shrub or tree with blue and green foliage. In spring magenta, pink and purple flowers emerge. Attracts bees and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Cercis occidentalis

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: fabaceae
Foliage: deciduous blue and green
Mature size: 12 FT wide, 10 FT - 20 FT - tall
Flowers: magenta, pink and purple blooms in spring
Uses: fall color, heart-shaped leaves, showy seedheads

GROWING CONDITIONS for Cercis occidentalis

USDA Zones: 7a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low

Soil needs: rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Lovely small tree or large shrub from the Southwest, to 10-15 ft tall x 12 ft wide, with rounded leathery leaves, green above and paler green below. Deciduous, they produce wonderful autumn colors in yellows and reds. Pea-like red-pink flowers appear along the limbs in spring before the leaves appear. Full sun to part shade with little summer water once established. Cold hardy in USDA zone 5-9.

By: Cistus Nursery

Similar to Eastern Redbud, Western Redbud trees make a fantastic small tree or shrub because of their interesting heart-shaped foliage and good winter color on the stems. In the spring, bright colored blooms literally erupt out of the woody branches - both thin and thick - and cover the plant in blossoms. As soon as the flowers begin to fade, the leaves start to emerge.

These can be allowed to grow to their full size of around 12 feet tall or pruned as low as 48 inches. The Western Redbud is more drought and heat tolerant than the Eastern Redbud, but less cold hardy. This is a fantastic choice for dry and sunny sites.

By: Red Panda Nursery

This deciduous shrub to small tree grows to 14' tall. In the garden, this multi-trunked tree is a great choice in a perennial border or woodland garden. The large, rounded leaves have attractive heart-shaped bases. New growth can be coppery red. The attractive magenta flowers appear in late summer to fall when the foliage turns light yellow to red. The reddish-purple seed pods hang on the tree in winter. Western redbud is native to dry slopes, usually next to a spring or seasonal creek, but in the garden, don't overwater. Combines well when paired with ceanothus, Douglas iris, and coral bells. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Being a member of the pea family, it is a beneficial nitrogen fixer. Hummingbirds take the nectar; Goldfinches eat the seed. The bark of young shoots were commonly used to make baskets and was also used to treat intestinal ailments. Found in dry slopes and in canyons in foothills. Communitites located in Chaparral, Foothill Woodland Between 0 and 4000 feet.

By: The Watershed Nursery

A deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 20' with an equal spread. In native situations it usually forms multi-stemmed thickets. The smooth, silver-gray bark adds year-round interest. Brilliant magenta, pea-like flowers in early spring are usually borne on bare stems, then followed by handsome blue-green, heart-shaped leaves. Leaf buds are often pinkish before they open. In frost prone areas, fall color can be outstanding. After the leaves have fallen coppery seed pods hang on the bare stems well into winter. An excellent choice for dry, seldom watered banks or as a carefully placed specimen. Flower production is stronger in colder climates. Classic combined with Ceanothus. The hard, beautifully grained wood of some Cercis has been used by cabinet makers for centuries to make veneers and inlays. The genus name Cercis is derived from the Greek kerkis, meaning "weaver's shuttle." This description refers to the long, flat seed pods of Cercis siliquastrum, known commonly as the Judas tree. Legend has it that the pale flowers blushed red in shame when Judas hung himself from the limb of a Cercis siliquastrum. Former president George Washington was particularly fond of the eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, and transplanted many of them from the wild to his estate in Mt. Vernon. Hardy to 0F. California.

By: Native Sons

A sight not soon forgotten is this drought-tolerant large shrub in spring when it's covered with showy magenta flowers; these are followed in fall with red fall color ; large pods; used by SW tribes for basketry, incense, ; food. SUN/Med-Dry/GdDrain

By: Forestfarm

Western Redbud is perhaps more ornamental than its eastern cousin, but it is harder to grow since it requires dry roots in summer. The leaves are bluish in the summer and the tree stays short, 12'. zone 6

By: Whitman Farms

California and Utah native worth every effort to overcome the stigma attached to 'Californication" as this is one transplant that is most welcome. Gorgeous large shrub to small tree with silvery bark, magenta rose flowers in spring, good fall color and rocking seed pods.

By: Far Reaches Farm

The Western Redbud is surprisingly adaptable to a variety of climates, and has attractive bluish-green leaves with pale undersides (which look a lot like those of Disanthus cercidifolius). It is also very drought tolerant and has showy pink spring flowers, making for an outstanding ornamental small deciduous tree in every respect. HW.

By: The Desert Northwest

Brilliant magenta flowers scream “Spring” in California! The sight of it will stop you in your tracks. For a knock-out combo, plant with bloom-at-the-same-time blue Ceanothus. Hummingbirds & bumblebees LOVE it, too! This California native grows naturally as a multi-trunked 14-20’ shrub on dry slopes next to seasonal creeks. In the garden, it’s both clay & acid soil tolerant but water carefully for the first 3 years, avoiding the crown, to prevent fungus die-back. You can keep the multi-trunked shape or create a small tree by pruning to one stem. Apple green heart-shaped leaves emerge after the flowers and darken to blue green. In areas with sufficient Winter chill, leaves will turn red to yellow in Fall. A beautiful accent tree or shrub in any climate but requires warm Summers for best flower show.

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Cercis occidentalis is a rounded, deciduous large shrub or small tree to 15' tall. Profuse flowers in mid-spring make a soft rose-purple haze February to April. This is a west coast native and very heat-, drought-, and clay-tolerant. Not for the coast because it needs distinct seasons to flower. Flowers (emerging before the leaves) and young pods are edible. Rounded leaves turn from a light or medium green to a rich red in autumn. Butterflies will alight!