Accession Count: 28
Common Name:
Mexican redbud
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Cercis canadensis
Sub Species:
Variety:
mexicana
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Mexican redbud is a small, multi-trunked tree or large shrub growing 5-12 feet tall (1). Its leaves are round, glossy, dark green. Flowers are dark pink to purple and emerge in the spring before leafbreak. Some varieties may have white flowers. Seed pods are reddish brown.
Compound:
Cer can mex
Geographic Origin:
Mountain Southwest, Chihuahua Desert
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The Mexican redbud’s native range includes New Mexico and Texas in the United States and northern Mexico (2). Redbuds provide forage for birds, deer, cattle, and nectar for bees (3). The name for the genus, Cercis (pronounced SER-sis) came from the Greek kerkis, the name for a species of redbud that occurs in Europe (4).
Cultivation Notes:
Mexican redbud may be propagated by seed, cuttings, or micropropagation (1). Seeds of C. canadensis var. mexicana have embryo and seed coat dormancy and require scarification using sulfuric acid for 30-60 minutes, then stratification in moist sand for 35 days at 35 to 40F (1,5). Mexican redbud cuttings root more
easily than other redbuds (5). To propagate by cuttings, take terminal, leafy
cuttings, 4-6 inches long, four weeks after bud-break, and dip for five seconds
in 10,000 ppm K-IBA (5). Micropropagation is also possible and is especially common
in commercial production (5). Mexican redbud should be transplanted during the
dormant season, in fall or early spring, in partial shade (4). Soil should be
well draining and the hole three to four times the size of the container (4).
Plant slightly higher than the soil line and mulch generously, but keep the
mulch away from the bark of the tree (4). Water every 3-4 days for the first
few weeks, then once a week in the summer and once a month in the winter (4). Mexican
redbud is better adapted to limited water than other redbuds, making it a good
choice for Southwestern gardens (1). Fertilize in the fall and spring using
slow-release or organic fertilizer (4). The Mexican redbud’s natural habit is
multi-trunked, but it may be trained to a single trunk (4). Prune to remove
dead or unwanted branches or suckers in the dormant season, removing the least
amount of new growth as possible, as blooms are produced only on new growth (4).
Ethnobotany:
In Mexico, the flowers are eaten pickled in salads or fried (3). There are also some reports that Native American groups ate the flowers and beans (6). In the 19th century it was used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and various ailments of the reproductive organs and mucous membranes (6). In the 20th century it was recommended for use as an astringent and to treat stomach irritation and diarrhea (6). A treatment for
dysentery is made by extracting an astringent extract from the bark (3).Redbuds
of all types remain a popular ornamental feature in the landscape, especially
in xeriscape designs, because they tolerate a variety of local conditions (1,3).
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Pink
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
1. Redbud – Cercis spp. in: Clemson University Horticulture Extension. Accessed November 25, 2016.
2. Cercis canadensis L. var. mexicana [Rose] M. Hopkins in: NRCS Plants Database. Accessed November 25, 2016.
3. Cercis canadensis in: Fire Effects Information System, USDA Forest Service. Accessed November 25, 2016.
4. Irish, M. (2003). Arizona gardener’s guide. Tennessee: Cool Springs Press. Print.
5. Hartmann, K.T. and Kester, D.E. (2011). Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (8th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Print.
6. Crellin, J.K. and Philpott, J. (1997). A Reference Guide to Medicinal Plants: Herbal Medicine Past and Present. Duke University Press. Print.
7. Jones, Warren D, and Charles M Sacamano. Landscape Plants for Dry Regions : More Than 600 Species from around the World. Fisher Books, 2000.
