Eastern Redbud

Description:

Tree w/short truck, up to 40' Leaves 21/2-41/2" Heart shaped w/broad short point. No teeth w/5-9 main veins, long stalked. Dull grn above paler & sometimes hairy below turning yellow in fall. Bark dark gray or brown smooth becoming furrowed into scaly plates. Flowers 1/2" long pea-shaped w/5 slightly unequal purplish-pink petals in early spring before leaves. Fruit 21/2-3 1/2" long flat oblong pods In fall turn blackish w/several bean like flat seeds. See pics-

Habitat:

Moist soils. These pics from Cushing Park in Canton, Ga 30114 Grow New Jersey to Central Fl

Notes:

Pink flowers very pretty in Spring which reportedly may be eaten as a salad or fried. (Audubon) Also called the "Judas Tree"