Tree
Judas tree
Cercis siliquastrum
A spreading deciduous tree with rose-pink spring flowers on bare branches and sometimes the trunk, followed by rounded, heart-shaped leaves. A warm, sheltered site matters in colder climates.
- Size
- 6–10 m high · 6–10 m wide
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Low
- Winter
- Needs protection
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Allow roughly 6–10 m in height and width over decades in a suitable climate. Old trees may grow taller; cold conditions can keep it smaller and multi-stemmed.
- Choose well-drained soil, preferably neutral to alkaline. Sun is best in cooler climates; light shade is tolerated in suitable warmer sites.
- Protect young plants from severe frost and cold winds. In Poland, reserve ground planting for the warmest sheltered sites; winter protection does not guarantee survival.
Why choose it
- Pink to purplish flowers appear on older branches and sometimes directly on the trunk, before or as the leaves unfold in spring.
- Rounded leaves make an attractive summer canopy and can turn yellow in autumn. Flat seed pods may remain on the bare branches through winter.
Care
- Water when the root zone dries during establishment. Drought tolerance develops once roots are established; avoid waterlogged soil.
- Allow the natural crown to develop. Little pruning is needed beyond dead, damaged or crossing branches; avoid repeated hard cutting.
- Check unexplained wilting or shoot dieback before treating it. Poor drainage and diseases such as verticillium wilt can cause similar-looking problems.
Good to know
- Plant a young specimen in its permanent position. Established Judas trees dislike transplanting and root disturbance.
- Check the botanical name when buying. Winter-hardiness advice for Cercis canadensis or other Judas-tree species may not apply to Cercis siliquastrum.