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Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) - A small deciduous tree or shrub to 15 feet tall or more and as wide that usually has several trunks from its base unless pruned into a single trunk. It has attractive 3-inch-long heart-shaped leaves that emerge in late winter a pale-green color, tinged red, and age to a blue-green, then turn yellow before dropping in the fall. It is profuse in bloom with numerous magenta pea-shaped flowers in the spring along the bare stems, just prior to the emergence of the leaves. The flowers are followed by 4- to 6-inch-long flatted reddish seed pods that age to light brown and often hold on into winter.
Plant in sun or part shade but flowers best in full sun. It grows in variable soil types (even clay soil) but requires that the soils drain and also tolerates a wide range of moisture conditions including no supplemental irrigation - this is a drought tolerant plant and it is resistant to oak root fungus. Flowers best in locations where the temperature drops to 28 degrees F or less and is hardy to USDA Zone 5a (-20 °F).
Cercis occidentalis is native to California, Arizona and Utah, but grows predominantly in California foothills below 4000 feet. In the garden it is a great plant for its attractive form, flowers and foliage. The foliage is particularly attractive when backlit. The flowers attract hummingbirds. The name Cercis is from the Greek word 'kerkis' which means a "weaver's shuttle" in reference to the shape of the fruit. The specific epithet 'occidentalis' is from Latin meaning "of the west" as this is where this species is restricted, growing from Utah west to California.
We grew this great California native plant from the first days of our nursery in 1979 up until when we closed in 2025.
The information displayed on this page about Cercis occidentalis is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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