Eastern Redbud in Springtime

Artwork of this image purchased in 2022 Eastern Redbuds are one of the most beloved deciduous understory trees. They are a member of the Pea Family with distinctive rosy-purple pea-like flowers that bloom profusely from the bare branches before the tree leaves emerge. The individual flowers are held together in tight clusters creating an incredibly dramatic spring show. The buds have the amazing ability to emerge directly from the bark of the trunk and bare branches in a process called “cauliflory” or “stem flower”. Each one-half inch flower consists of an upper petal, two flared wing petals and a pair of lower petals fused into a keel or lip and are sometimes described as looking like little rosy hummingbirds. Wikipedia Redbuds grow quickly, reaching 15 – 30’ in height with a spread of 20 – 35’. Often branched low to the ground, multiple graceful trunks grow in a graceful vase shape with tiered branches adding architecture and interest year-round. The bark is thin and brown developing dark brown scaly ridges and narrow furrows. Twigs are reddish brown with a distinctive zigzag pattern between the alternate leaves. This was taken at The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.