Many of you responded to my previous post about Redbud, scientific name Cercis canadensis, by saying that you were not familiar with the tree. Commonly called Eastern Redbud, it is a deciduous, often multi-trunked understory tree with a rounded crown and is noted for its stunning pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom profusely on bare branches in early spring (March-April) before the foliage emerges.
The tree is native to eastern and central North America from Connecticut to New York to southern Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Western Texas and Florida( http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ ). Here in Virginia, we often see it in open meadows, and along roads and rivers.
My blogging pal, Pauline, The Contented Crafter, thought the Redbud looked familiar, and in doing a quick online search, found that in New Zealand they call it The Judas Tree.
Littlesundog, writing from Oklahoma, commented that she loved the beautiful blooms and the heartshaped leaves.
If you don’t have Redbud in your area, feel free to come visit Southwest Virginia in the spring and I’ll be happy to show you around!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
Wow… the leaves in shot 3 look like hand painted on leather; such detail 🙂
Thanks! Now … to learn why some photos turn out so well, while others … not so much! All part of the fun and the learning 🙂
Me too…. I still just point and shoot; having no clue what I am doing, so hit n miss here too 😀
So lovely. Not the same, but reminds me of some jacaranda trees I grew up with.
The Jacaranda tree is beautiful (I had to do a search after reading your comment). They do have similarities.
These are gorgeous images Laurie, very well done 🙂
Thanks Joe! Do you see these up where you are/
I have never seen one up here and the leaves are spectacular (wonderful job on those photos too).
It is such a pretty tree and your photos do it every justice. 🙂
Why thank you, Suz! Enjoy your day!
Love the photos and the tree. Never knew the name of it before.
In the spring, you can see Redbud trees all along the interstate highway … makes for travel on an interstate so much better!
Beautiful tree. Have a redbud but it’s a few weeks behind yours in blossoms. Sometime I’ll have to do a post on my trees xo LMA
I’ll look forward to seeing that post! The blooms are just starting to fall from my tree and the ground below is dotted with purple leaves …so pretty.
Along with being beautiful, this post was very helpful; we have lots of Redbud here in Salt Lake and I never could identify them. When I looked it up I found an article from December 2012 about planting 28 of them here as a memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55534525-78/trees-lake-salt-love.html.csp.
Rona, thank you for sharing that link. What a beautiful tribute to those children, their teachers, and families.
And in doing further research, because I love the heart shaped leaves too, I found it is also commonly called ‘the forest pansy’ which I hadn’t heard of before – have you? I’m curious about how it got the common name ‘Judas tree’ too – more research required! They are available to purchase here – very expensive though – I was looking at a price around $70 for a 1.5m specimen!
I had not heard of the forest pansy name. I did mention the Judas Tree to a group of women who gathered on my porch last night, and one had heard of that.
What a shame they are so expensive as they bring such joy!
I join the ranks of those unfamiliar with this tree. I love Pauline’s input as well.
Isn’t it funny how we get so used to our own natural surroundings and then to realize that others aren’t familiar with certain species. I also have to keep reminding myself that folks in the southern hemisphere are just entering fall, while we are embracing spring.
Blogging really opens your eyes to the rest of the world, doesn’t it? Yet another thing to love about it.
These are lovely LB
especially the close-ups 🙂
Have a wicked weekend…
Andro xx
Thanks Andro! Wicked fun to you, as well 🙂
Reblogged this on S.O.U.L. S-P-A-C-E.
Thank you Joann 🙂
Such beautiful shots, and the Judas tree is a familiar name……love the way you captured the blossom erupting straight from the bark!
Thanks Seonaid! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by these trees … one right outside my back porch 🙂
Nice use of DOF to enhance your composition!
Thank you, Robyn. I’m learning 🙂
gorgeous photos LB…I really love this tree…but I think our weather is too cold here in Northern Ontario, judging by where it grows…
yeah, I was surprised that it said the range was in Canada … I wondered how it would grow there. SO beautiful, right?
Lovely shots. We love the redbuds! We have the purple leaf variety lining our driveway, and the regular leaf redbuds are scattered all over the property and in the woods! As for the northern climates, I brought one to my mom years ago (SE Nebraska). They grow more like a shrub there, not getting as tall as our trees here, but they bloom each spring. People remark to her all of the time, “What kind of tree IS that?” LOL
I’m so glad you came to see this post! I had hoped you would like the photo of the heart shaped leaves 🙂
I can’t imagine how gorgeous that view is from your porch. Throw in a glass of wine and it’d be hard to leave. Beautiful close up too LB, so crisp and clear.
Sometimes those close ups just turn out right and it sure makes me happy when they do 🙂
Reblogged this on rebloggobbler.
Hello! I’m not sure why I’m just seeing this, 3 months later, but thanks for the reblog!!
No problem! You’re welcome!
Have to admit, it doesn’t look familiar to me. Lovely shots.
Thanks! and I’m glad I could introduce you to this beautiful tree.
Laurie, I planted these along our driveway, and now have discovered them all over up on the Mountain Farmlet. 😀
They are perfect along roads, driveways … or anywhere!
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