Description:

Eastern redbud is a small to medium sized tree, occasionally reaching 40 ft (12 m) in height, but usually staying around 20 ft (6 m) tall. It sometimes has multiple trunks and its branches form a spreading, flattened or rounded crown up to 30 ft (9 m) across, but usually less. The leaves are simple and heart shaped, appearing after the magenta flowers bloom in early spring. Those flowers are borne in clusters all along the naked branches and make the whole tree look pinkish-purple.

Redbud is a member of the bean and pea family, and you would certainly know that from the fruits. They are typical-looking pods, rather flatened, about 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and a half inch wide, and they hang in little clusters right off the branches. The pods may be hard to see amongst the attractive pale green foliage of summer, but they often persist into winter after the leaves have fallen.