Redbud


 For anyone living in the eastern half of the United States who does not spend 100% of their time in a cave knows that we have had an early spring.  The cherry blossoms in Washington, DC for example bloomed over a month early.  This early spring also gave naturalists such as myself something to be excited about, as well:  spring wildflowers.  In fact, in a blog post last year, I could not help but show off some of the amazing wildflowers that bloomed around the hilly forests of Southern Ohio. 

This season though, I don't want to overwhelm you too much.  I'm instead going to introduce you to Redbud (Cercis canadensis).  Redbud is a common understory tree that is found in abundance along the margins of moist woods in the eastern United States, particularly in the more forested regions of the Ozarks, Appalachia, the Deep South, and the Mid-Atlantic (Sibley, 2009).  It is also a common ornamental tree, as it requires little watering and maintenance and, as you can see below, has very showy spring flowers.

The heart-shaped, deep green leaves of this magnificent plant appear after the flowers, and then in the fall those leaves turn a bright golden-yellow.  The photos below are of some Redbud in bloom on an unusually warm early spring day in a woodland area of the Piedmont region of Virginia.  Feel free to click each photo to enlarge it. 


Redbud tree in bloom along a trail at James Madison's Montpelier.  March 22, 2012.  Orange, VA.   


Redbud growing along an edge area of Piedmont Forest in Orange County, VA.  James Madison's Montpelier.  March 22, 2012.  

Redbud growing along an edge area of Piedmont Forest in Orange County, VA.  James Madison's Montpelier.  March 22, 2012. 

Redbud tree in bloom along a trail at James Madison's Montpelier.  March 22, 2012.  Orange, VA. 
Closeup of Redbud blossoms. 


References
Sibley, D. A. (2009). The Sibley guide to trees. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

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