Eastern Redbud (Black Diamond) Traditional Cache

The Redbud foliage is striking. Quite a grove here. The trees are so noticeable when they flower, on bare branches in  early Spring, that I hadn’t really noticed the beauty of the leaves.

Please remember to BYOP.

This from:Arbor Day Foundation:

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Known as the harbinger of spring, the eastern redbud’s delicate blossoms and buds are one of the season’s most dramatic displays. But this tree’s beauty doesn’t end with its flowery show. Unique and irregular branching patterns combine with a trunk that commonly divides close to the ground to create a very handsome, spreading and often flat-topped crown. Even in winter, covered with snow, the eastern redbud is stunning.

Mature Size

The eastern redbud grows to a height of 20–30' and a spread of 25–35' at maturity.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

Sun Preference

Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference

The eastern redbud grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils.

Attributes

This tree:

    •    Blooms in a profusion of rosy pink flowers in April.

    •    Begin flowering at a young age, sometimes as early as 4 years.

    •    Features somewhat heart-shaped leaves 2–6" in length. They emerge a reddish color, turning dark green as summer approaches and then yellow in the fall.

    •    Makes a bold landscape statement, with its irregular branching and graceful crown.

    •    Yields brown to brownish-black pods that are 2–3" in length, remaining on the tree throughout winter.

    •    Grows in a rounded, vase shape.

Wildlife Value

The early blossoms draw in nectar-seeking insects, including several species of early-season butterflies. Northern bobwhite and a few songbirds, such as chickadees, will eat the seeds. It can be used for nesting sites and nesting materials, and it also provides shelter for birds and mammals.

History/Lore

Native to North America and Canada with cousins in Europe and Asia, this tree was noted by Spaniards who made distinctions between the New World species and their cousins in the Mediterranean region in 1571. Centuries later, George Washington reported in his diary on many occasions about the beauty of the tree and spent many hours in his garden transplanting seedlings obtained from the nearby forest.

It was chosen as the state tree of Oklahoma in 1937.

Here from: The Missouri Botanical Garden:

Cercis canadensis, commonly called eastern redbud, is a deciduous, often multi-trunked understory tree with a rounded crown that typically matures to 20-30’ tall with a slightly larger spread. It is particularly noted for its stunning pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom profusely on bare branches in early spring (March-April) before the foliage emerges. This tree is native to eastern and central North America from Connecticut to New York to southern Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Western Texas and Florida. It is found in open woodlands, thickets, woodland margins, limestone glades and along rocky streams and bluffs throughout Missouri (Steyermark). Flowers (to ½” wide) bloom in clusters of 4-10. Flowers are followed by flattened leguminous bean-like dry seedpods (to 2-4” long) that mature to brown in summer.

Each pod has 6-12 seeds. Pods may remain on the tree into winter. Alternate, simple, cordate, broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, dull green to blue-green leaves (3-5” across) have a papery texture and are short pointed at the tip. Leaves turn pale yellow to greenish-yellow in fall. Cercis canadensis is the state tree of Oklahoma.

Genus name comes from the Greek word kerkis meaning weaver’s shuttle in reference to the resemblance of each seed pod to a weaver’s shuttle.

Specific epithet is in reference to Canada (southern Ontario) being part of the native range of this tree.

Problems

Canker can be a significant disease problem. Verticillium wilt, dieback, leaf spots, mildew and blights may also occur. Insect pests include Japanese beetles, tree hoppers, leaf hoppers, caterpillars, borers, webworms and scale. Keeping the tree vigorous by regular watering and fertilization and by pruning out dead branches as needed will help keep the tree healthy.

The cache is a tied in, camoed, “small” pill bottle, that you have to push hard to open and close. Please make sure you put it back as found, or better, with the rubber band around the log and the bag well sealed, and appropriate camo. BYOP!