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| ## california redbud {#california-redbud .Title-Header}               |
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| *Cercis orbiculata* Greene                                            |
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| Plant Symbol = CEOR9                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

##### 

##### Alte**r**nate Names

*Cercis canadensis* L. var*. orbiculata* (Greene) Barneby, *Cercis
occidentalis* Torr. ex Gray var*. orbiculata* (Greene) Tidestrom,
western redbud

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

California redbud is a good soil stabilizer along streams, and can
withstand periodic flooding. The flowers provide nectar to bees and the
young shoots, leaves, and seedpods are browsed by goats, and to a
limited extent by deer, sheep, and cattle. The browse rating for sheep
and cattle is poor. Horticulturists have planted redbud in informal and
formal gardens and landscapes since 1886 and it has been called one of
California\'s most attractive flowering shrubs in gardeners\' manuals
and horticultural guides. California redbud is highly valued by native
American basket weavers for their young, wine-red branches, harvested
and used in the designs of
baskets.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2805555555555554in"
height="5.075694444444444in"}

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

California redbud, is a leguminous shrub that grows from 7 to 20 feet
tall with a dense rounded crown that almost reaches the ground.
California redbud, also known as western redbud, is currently recognized
as *Cercis orbiculata* Greene. The leaves are simple, thick, and rounded
or heart-shaped, and have from 7 to 9 prominent veins. They are
deciduous; their autumn display of yellow turning to red and brown
rivals that of some eastern hardwoods. The striking sweetpea-like
flowers appear before the leaves, in small clusters along the branches.
Each flower has 5 petals that range in color from magenta pink to
reddish purple. Pollination is by bumble bees (*Bombus* sp.) and orchard
mason bees *(Osmia lignaria)*. Although the pink sprays can be seen from
February through April, any one shrub will remain in flower only about 2
weeks. In autumn the branches often bear many clusters of pointed, flat,
very thin pods, the upper suture with a conspicuous winged margin. In
ripening, the pods are first purple and then russet-brown, each
containing an average of 7 hard, bean-like seeds. The mature pods
persist into the next winter.

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Native to California, Arizona, and Utah, redbud is found in at least
five plant communities including oak woodland, chaparral, mixed conifer
forest, riparian woodland, and closed cone forest. It grows at
elevations of 4,000 feet or less, in canyons and on rather steep slopes,
in gravelly and rocky soils along streams where it is never flooded. It
also grows in the bottom of ephemeral streambeds in little pockets,
benches, or crannies of boulder outcroppings. The plant is drought
tolerant, sun-loving, and grows in a wide variety of soils, but it is
usually found in rather harsh environments with coarse, nutrient-poor
soils that are well-drained. It grows mostly singly, but sometimes, in
sheltered situations, in shrubby clumps.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

If possible, gather the seed from local sources, to maintain genetic
diversity of redbud. The seedpods can be collected from September to
November from redbud branches. Redbud seeds are adapted to prolonged
periods of dryness and cold and they require special pretreatment to
germinate, owing to an impervious seed coat plus a dormant embryo. One
method is to place the seeds into a container and pour boiling water
over them and let the seeds soak overnight. They can then be covered
with damp peat moss and refrigerated for two months or they can be
planted right away. The germination of redbud seed in the wild is
favored by fire, which cracks the seed coat and generates the heat
needed to stimulate germination.

Plant the treated seed in the fall in flats, spacing the seeds
approximately 1 to 2 inches apart. Use a slow-release fertilizer in the
planting mix. Cover with about 1/4 inch of soil (approximately 3 to 4
times the width of the seed). To reduce the possibility of damping off,
keep the flats outdoors in a protected area with partial shade and
little wind. Water the flats through the winter and then let the plants
grow 1 full year before planting them out. The seedlings will be about 3
inches to 1 foot tall by the following fall. Plant the seedlings in a
sunny location with good drainage. If gophers are a problem, plant
redbud seedlings in cages. Watering is not necessary until the following
summer, in a normal rainfall year. Give the young plants summer water
for the first 3 years in the ground. This amounts to once every 2 weeks
in a hot climate and less in a coastal climate. Do not overwater, as
redbud will not tolerate summer water in the root crown area (at the
soil level) and will suffer crown rot (*Phytophthora* sp.) if watered
too frequently. When redbud leaves first emerge in the spring, use a
liquid fertilizer to boost its growth.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

*Pruning*: Periodic pruning of redbud, after it has

reached the minimum age of 5 years, can be accomplished to remove dead
or dying branches that might harbor diseases or insects. Pruning should
take place in the fall, winter, or early spring, after leaf drop and
during the dormant period. Contemporary Native American weavers practice
two types of pruning. One technique is coppicing, where the whole plant
is cut to within several inches of the ground. Redbud vigorously
resprouts from the coppice stool, sending up young straight shoots with
a beautiful red pigment. This can bring added color to gardens and also
these shoots are highly valued for basket weaving. Coppicing, however,
should only be done on mature shrubs\--at least a decade old. Flowering
will be lost, until the young sprouts are two to three years old and
shed the red pigment and form true bark. The other technique is
selective pruning within the canopy to direct the growth of the plant.
This pruning leaves some older flowering branches, important for bees
and butterflies.

*Burning*: Before Euro-American settlement of California, Native
Americans conducted purposeful burning of hillsides in the fall of the
year, after redbud has shed its leaves, to encourage the growth of
young, straight shoots used extensively in basketry. Redbud also
resprouts vigorously after fires.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

A pathogen that infects redbud leaves is *Alternaria* sp. and *Botrytis*
sp. is a gray mold that causes foliage or flower blight. Two fungi that
cause root rot in redbud include *Fusarium solani* and *Verticillium
dahliae.* A fungus that infects old seedpods is *Didymella
leguminis-cytisis*. Most of these diseases will debilitate but not kill
redbud. Fire is an effective tool to use to eliminate the above-ground
pathogens inhabiting redbud.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

While there are no cultivars recommended at this time, plants are
available from nurseries.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

##### Edited: 24Jun2002 JLK; 01jun06 jsp {#edited-24jun2002-jlk-01jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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