Cercis siliquastrum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SER-sis sil-ee-KWAS-trum
- Description
-
Mediterranean Redbud is, as it says, from the Mediterranean. It is a multi-trunked understory tree that is drought tolerant and prefers drier climates. It has a rounded crown and grows 15 to 25 feet tall. The blooms are larger than most Redbuds and appear in spring before the foliage.
Use this tree in woodland settings, as a street tree, specimen tree or in groups.
Please consider planting the native Redbud instead as it is more adapted to our climate.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree can suffer from damage caused by deer.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Afghan Deep Purple'
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Bodnant'
- 'Carnea'
- 'Fructa Rubra'
- 'Penduliflora'
- 'Rubra'
Dark pink-purple blooms - 'Sterilis'
- 'Variegata'
- 'White Swan'
- 'Afghan Deep Purple'
- 'Afghan Deep Purple', 'Alba', 'Bodnant', 'Carnea', 'Fructa Rubra', 'Penduliflora', 'Rubra', 'Sterilis', 'Variegata', 'White Swan'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Afghan Deep Purple'
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Bodnant'
- 'Carnea'
- 'Fructa Rubra'
- 'Penduliflora'
- 'Rubra'
Dark pink-purple blooms - 'Sterilis'
- 'Variegata'
- 'White Swan'
- 'Afghan Deep Purple'
- 'Afghan Deep Purple', 'Alba', 'Bodnant', 'Carnea', 'Fructa Rubra', 'Penduliflora', 'Rubra', 'Sterilis', 'Variegata', 'White Swan'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cercis
- Species:
- siliquastrum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- France to Eastern Mediteranean
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers provide nectar for bees and once pollinated form leguminous pods, the seed can be consumed by birds. Members of the genus Cercis support the following specialized bee: Habropoda laboriosa
- Edibility:
- The flowers are edible and purportedly have a sweet-acid taste.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 4-inch long showy purple leguminous flat seedpods mature in late summer and last well into winter.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3-5 inch clusters of 3/4 inch magenta pea-shaped flowers in early spring before the foliage appears. Blooms on older growth and covers branches and sometimes the trunk.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Nearly round heart-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches wide and long. Young leaves are bronzy-red in spring, deep green in summer and yellow to yellow bronze in fall.
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Dark grey furrowed bark
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
