Cercis glabra

Smooth redbud is an uncommon broadleaf deciduous tall shrub or medium-size tree native to Central and Southern China. It is typically found in dense forests, mountain slopes, near valleys, and rocky areas. This tree has a rounded to vase-shaped habit and grows taller than most other trees in its genus. Reportedly, it can grow up to 15 to 60 feet tall and equally as wide, and it has heart-shaped to triangular-shaped leaves, short racemes of purplish-red flowers in the spring, and purplish-red legumes in the fall. The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which means weaver's shuttle, referring to the fact that the seed pod resembles the size and shape of a weaver's shuttle used to move thread back and forth on a loom. The specific epithet, glabra, is Latin, meaning smooth or hairless. It likely refers to the tree's shiny, glabrous leaves. It is a member of the legume or pea family (Fabaceae).

This tree prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, rich loamy, sandy, or clay soils. It is winter hardy in zones 6 through 8. It is drought-tolerant once established and humidity-tolerant. The smooth redbud's flowers will attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. 

The bark and branches are grayish-black, and its young leaves are purplish-red, but they turn green as they mature. The leaves are thick, papery or leathery, and smooth on the upper surface, and the underside may have hairs along the veins. Like other redbuds, profuse racemes of flowers appear in the spring before the foliage. The fruits are legumes that are initially purplish-red and ripen to brown in the fall. 

This species is not widely available and is not recommended for NC gardens. Please consider planting Cercis canadensis and its cultivars.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect pests include scale, caterpillars, and whiteflies. Trees in this genus may be susceptible to anthracnose, canker, root and crown rot, and verticillium wilt. Tree damage can result from deer.