California Shrub: Western Redbud

These were the blossoms on the Western Redbud a few months ago, before the leaves appeared.

This is what it looks like now.

Western (or California) Redbud

• Pea family
• Usually a shrub 7 to 18 feet high.
• Leaves are round and heart shaped, winter deciduous
• Bright purple flowers appear in early spring on naked branches, followed by bronze colored leaves that soon turn green.
• Seed pods appear in July.
• Grows below 4,000 feet.
• Drought tolerant and sun-loving.
• Native Americans highly prized this shrub and used its autumn wine-red branches for basket-making.

I am hoping to have this redbud as part of my lovely front yard for many, many season to come.

I have long wanted a redbud in my yard and when we did our front yard remodel we left a space for one in the front section. I planted poppies around the base and this spring I got to discover how beautifully they work together in my yard. I need to remember that you are to prune it in the fall, winter, or early spring after the leaf drop.

There is a wealth of information in the printable: USDA Western Redbud.

This the second of my shrubs…only three more to go to meet my 2013 goal.