Naming |
| Botanical Name: |
Cercis canadensis
|
| Common Names: |
Eastern Redbud American Judas Tree, Canadian Redbud
|
| Key Name: |
Eastern Redbud
|
| Parts Used: |
Flowers, leaves, seeds
|
| Sister Plants: |
Cercis chinensis, Cercis occidentalis, Cercis siliquastrum
|
| Comments: |
Small deciduous tree or shrub attractive to early-season pollinators; thrives in Southern Ontario woodlands
|
Taxonomy |
| Kingdom |
Viridiplantae |
Phylum |
Streptophyta |
| Class |
Magnoliopsida |
Order |
Fabales |
| Family |
Fabaceae |
Genus |
Cercis |
| Species |
canadensis |
NCBI Tax ID |
49801
|
| Organism |
|
|
Characteristics |
| Identifying Character: |
Deciduous tree or shrub (15-30 ft), multi-trunked with a rounded crown, heart-shaped Leaves, pink to purple flowers on stems and trunk, blooming May-June
|
| Stem: |
Short, often crooked, multi-trunked, gray bark with shallow furrows
|
| Leaves: |
Heart-shaped, 3-5 inches, bright green with reddish tinge when young, yellow in fall
|
| Flowers: |
lusters of pea-like pink to purple flowers, 0.5 in wide, on stems and trunk, blooming May ??? June
|
| Fruit: |
Flat, reddish-brown Pods, 2-4 inches, containing 4-10 seeds
|
| Taste: |
ild (flowers), bland (Leaves)
|
| Odour: |
Mild, sweet scent from flowers
|
| Root: |
Deep taproot with fibrous extensions
|
| Image: |
(image unavailable)
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|
Distribution |
| Distribution: |
Native to Southern Ontario, eastern North America from New Jersey to Florida, west to Michigan and Texas
|
| Cultivation: |
Plant in full Sun to partial shade, well-drained soil; prefers moist conditions; space 15-25 ft apart
|
| Harvest: |
flowers: May-June; seeds: Fall when Pods dry
|
Medical |
| Therapeutic Action: |
Astringent, Diuretic, Tonic
|
| Medical Uses: |
flowers used for Colds, sore throats, and as a mild Diuretic; Leaves occasionally for poultices; limited evidence
|
| Constituents: |
flavonoids (flavonoids)">flavonoids, Tannins, Anthocyanins
|
| Solvents: |
Water, alcohol (Tincture)
|
| Dosage: |
infusion: 1 tsp dried flowers in hot water, 1 time daily
|
| Administration: |
Internal: infusion; External: Poultice
|
| Formulas: |
|
| Contra Indications: |
May cause mild Allergic reactions; avoid during Pregnancy; consult healthcare provider
|
| Preparation: |
infusion: Steep 1 tsp dried flowers in hot water 10 min
|
| Chinese: |
No documented use in Traditional Chinese Medicine
|
| Veterinary: |
Used for minor Digestive issues in livestock
|
| Homeopathic: |
No known homeopathic use documented
|
Pollination and Pollinators |
| Apis: |
Yes
|
| Pollinator: |
beetles,ButterFlies,wasps,flies,bee,HoneyBee
|
| Pollen: |
Yes
|
| Pollen Notes: |
Pollen attracts bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, beetles
|
| Nectar: |
Yes
|
| Nectar Notes: |
Nectar-rich, attracts honeybees, native bees, butterflies, early-season pollinators
|
Other |
| Non-Medical Uses: |
ornamental, dye from flowers, edible flowers
|
| Culinary Uses: |
flowers edible raw or in salads, young Pods cooked
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| History: |
Used by Native Americans for food and medicine; named "Judas Tree" from legend of Judas Iscariot; cultivated since 1641 in America
|
| Reference: |
Plants For A Future; USDA NRCS
|
| URL: |
https://usbm.ca/ency
|
| Share: |
Public
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