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Forestry
Champion Trees
Eastern Redbud Tree -
(Cercis canadensis L.)
The Eastern Redbud Tree (Cercis canadensis L.) is a native tree that ranges
from central Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana; eastward to Florida,
northward to Connecticut and Ontario, and west to Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska,
and Kansas. A member of the Pea Family, Leguminosae, this hardy harbinger of
spring generously displays gorgeous pinkish red, pea-shaped flowers before its
leaves appear, giving rise to the common name Red Bud. The heart-shaped leaves
and tenaciously clinging seed pods make this tree one of the easiest to
identify. Rarely exceeding 40 feet in height, this extremely popular tree is one
of the favorites used by landscape designers as an accent specimen where a dash
of spring color is needed. It is also the State Tree of Oklahoma. There is also
a white variety that has come into favor in the last few years, but they are
hard to find.
The genus name Cercis is the ancient name of a closely related Judas-tree of
Europe and Asia. According to tradition Judas hung himself from a branch of the
tree. The species name canadensis, literally means "of Canada," where it is
rather uncommon. Perhaps Linnaeus was referring to northeastern North America,
before political boundaries were set up. This native tree is a very handsome
ornamental and has been in cultivation since 1641. It has been reported that the
acid flowers have been pickled and used in salads, and in Mexico they are fried.
The seeds are eaten by a number of species of birds and the foliage is browsed
by the white-tailed deer. Eastern Redbud also has some value as a source of
honey.
This big tree is a new Arkansas Champion Tree. Though not as big as some
towering oak, it is one of the largest of its species in the United States.
Champion trees are determined by a Bigness Index (BI) formula that includes
the circumference in inches measured four and a half feet from the ground,
the actual height in feet, plus one-fourth the crown spread in feet. This
Arkansas Champion Eastern Redbud tree has a bigness Index of 153 and is
located in Clarendon, Arkansas at property owned by Carlton Self.
It has a trunk circumference of 111 inches, a crown spread of 37 feet,
and stands 33 feet in height. Retired Monroe County Extension Agent Reggie Talley
nominated this tree as a champ.
By: Reggie Talley
Retired Monroe County Extension Agent
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