Bloomipedia
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Photo: Ira Gershenhorn via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a shrub or small tree in the Fabaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Eastern redbud is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 24 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

31states where USDA records it
24Bloomipedia state lists include it
74,275U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

Quick look

Cercis canadensis, the eastern redbud, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, native to eastern North America from southern Michigan south to central Mexico, west to New Mexico, but able to thrive as far west as California and as far north as southern Ontario. It is the state tree of Oklahoma and the official city tree of Huntington Beach.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–March. iNaturalist
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 30 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 15,724 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #27 among the 169 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 5,513 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #20 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 5,264 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #16 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,709 records)
Bloom time in the 24 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
TexasNativeFebruary–March15,724
VirginiaNativeMarch–April5,513
North CarolinaNativeMarch–April5,264
TennesseeNativeMarch–April4,390
OhioNativeApril–May4,071
PennsylvaniaNativeApril–May4,020
MarylandNativeApril3,524
New YorkIntroducedApril–May3,292
MissouriNativeMarch–April3,020
GeorgiaNativeMarch–April2,919
IllinoisNativeApril–May2,813
IndianaNativeApril–May2,608
MichiganNativefew records (47)2,224
OklahomaNativeMarch–April2,161
KentuckyNativeMarch–April2,068
AlabamaNativeMarch1,919
ArkansasNativeMarch–April1,674
KansasNativefew records (26)939
South CarolinaNativeMarch930
West VirginiaNativeApril755
MississippiNativeFebruary–March458
IowaNativefew records (19)302
DelawareNativefew records (43)284
NebraskaNativefew records (5)211

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 15 of our 24 states.
See each state
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Indiana.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Kansas.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Carolina.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Delaware
Variety listed Only Cercis canadensis var. canadensis is on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list) (sH, historical (informational)). NatureServe: SH, possibly extirpated (known only from historical records) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (SH). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: Cercis canadensis var. canadensis is on Delaware's rare plant list (sh, historical). DE rare plants 2024

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The flowers are edible and taste similar to peas. Contain high amounts of vitamin C.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Eastern redbud in 31 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Texas counties with USDA records: Anderson, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazos, Brewster, Brown, Burleson, Chambers, Cherokee, Coke, Coleman, Collin, Comal, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Crockett, Dallas, Dawson, Eastland, Edwards, Fayette, Foard, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Hale, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Hunt, Jefferson, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Llano, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Mills, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Nolan, Orange, Parker, Pecos, Polk, Real, Red River, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Saba, Schleicher, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Stephens, Sutton, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Walker, Washington, Wichita, Williamson, Wise, Wood.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, York.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Haywood, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Northampton, Orange, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Vance, Wake, Wilkes.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Eastern redbud a low shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.9 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.0 to 7.9
Minimum temperature tolerated
-28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
170
Annual precipitation range
20 to 80 inches
Minimum root depth
24 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for CECA4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1324 counties across 30 states; the most are in Kentucky (116), Missouri (114), Texas (96).

Other Cercis on Bloomipedia (1): Western redbud.

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover, Common vetch.

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Sources