Rain Garden Plants: Eastern Redbud

The Eastern redbud is a small, understory flowering tree. It can grow in
full sun but prefers some shade and does not tolerate heat or drought.
The trunk may be single or multistemmed. Showy pink to light purple
flowers appear before or during leaf emergence. They grow close to
the branches and sometimes on the trunk, providing a nectar source
for pollinators. Large, heart-shaped leaves grow alternately on the
stems and turn a clear yellow in the fall. The seeds are brown to black
pea-like pods that remain on the tree throughout winter, providing food
for songbirds. It is also a host plant for several moth species (e.g.,
the Io moth and white-marked tussock moth). A 3- to 4-inch layer of
organic mulch can protect the tree's shallow root system.

• Height: 15 to 30 feet
• Bloom color: Pink, purple
• Bloom time: Early spring to April
• Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
• Salt tolerance: Intolerant of soil salt and salt spray

Site Conditions

• Sun: Sun/Shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained to occasionally dry soil; tolerant of acid or
  alkaline soils
• Hydrologic zone: Moist

Sources

Penn State Extension

The Morton Arboretum, Redbud

University of Maryland

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Beth Yount, Vincent Cotrone, Constance Schmotzer, and Jessica Chou.
Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.

For a printable PDF version of this article, contact Jodi Sulpizio at jrb143@psu.edu.