Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. alba)

common name:

Eastern redbud, white redbud

scientific name:

Cercis

canadensis var. alba

Branches filled with small white blossoms against a blurred brick wall background.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis var. alba) in bloom, highlighting its white flowers along bare branches in early spring.

Image Creadit:

Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant

Blooming tree with white flowers near a brick building under a blue sky.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis var. alba) is a small, ornamental deciduous tree prized for its early spring display of pure white flowers that emerge directly along branches and trunks before leaf-out. This striking flowering habit, known as cauliflory, creates strong visual interest in the landscape and provides an important early nectar source for pollinators. The ‘alba’ form offers a unique variation on the more common pink-flowering redbud, making it especially valuable in designed landscapes seeking contrast or a softer color palette.

Charecteristics

Plant type:

Deciduous Tree

Hardiness Zones:

4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7

Light Needs:

Full Sun

Water Needs:

Moist

Space Requirements:

12-24 feet

Height Requirements:

10– 5 feet

Spread Requirements:

9–2 feet

Varieties