Identify that Plant

When Redbud (Cercis canadensis) blooms, spring has definitely arrived in North America.  The flowers grow first, with short stalks, directly from the tree’s branches.  While the flowers bloom, new Redbud leaves begin to break from their winter buds and make their appearance.

Here’s a closer view of Redbud’s pea-like flowers.

Fertilized Redbud flowers become pods with seeds.  It takes all summer for the tiny pods to grow large, ripen to a dark brown color and become brittle.

Redbud leaves are heart-shaped with a blunt tip.  Their venation is palmate.

In the fall, the leaf color shifts from green to yellow.

Watch this video of one year in the life of Redbud (Cercis canadensis) to see how the leaves grow from lime green to dark green and then yellow, to closely observe the parts of the pea-like flowers, and to study Redbud’s seeds — taken from a nearly ripe pod.