Mediterranean Redbud Cercis siliquastrum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SER-sis sil-ee-KWAS-trum
- Description
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This species is not widely available nor is it recommended for NC gardens. Please consider planting Cercis canadensis and its cultivars.
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.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree can suffer from damage caused by deer.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
