Cercis canadensis L.

A deciduous shrub or small tree. It grows 10 m tall. It is a broadly spreading tree. The bark is dark grey-brown to black. The leaves are rounded and 10 cm long by 12 cm wide. They are heart shaped at the base. They are bronze when young and become bright green and smooth. Sometimes they turn yellow in the autumn. The flowers are pea-like. The are 1 cm long and pink. They occur in clusters on old shoots. They can also be on the main trunk and branches. The fruit is a flattened pod. It is 7.5 cm long and is green but becomes brown when ripe.

It is a temperate plant. It is native to North America. It grows in moist woods. It suits full sun or dappled shade. It is best in fertile soil. It should be deep and moist but well-drained. In Mexico it grows between 1,000-2,250 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

The flowers are used in salads. They are also fried. The unopened buds are pickled in vinegar and used as a caper substitute. The buds, flowers and young pods are sauteed in butter or fried into fritters.

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from tip cuttings or root suckers.