The Eastern or Forest Pansy Redbud, is a small deciduous tree with showy purple-red flowers in the spring and maroon foliage that turns green in the summer. Sweetpea-like red-pink flowers bloom profusely on bare branches and even on mature trunks. Heart-shaped green leaves turn an attractive yellow in the fall. Bloom time is April.

Native to Ontario and other parts of North America. Many types of wildlife are supported by the flowers, seeds and leaves of Redbud. 

Cercis tolerates varied soil conditions and pHs, but not wet soils. To promote general health, prune out dead branches. Can be a multi-stemmed clump or tree form. Cercis is in the legume family, and capable of fixing needed atmospheric nitrogen.