Arizona Redbud

Cercis orbiculata

Eastern and California Redbud (Cercis canadensis and Cercis occidentalis) are more common in nurseries (and often mislabeled!) but orbiculata is native to the Great Basin geographic region in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, especially located around the Grand Canyon, and should be used in this region rather than the other types, which are not as adapted to this climate. This legume produces incredible explosions of white, pink, purple, or red inflorescence in spring followed by cheerfully green, heart-shaped leaves and red seed pods, before turning bright orange and yellow in the autumn, and is an excellent, showy, native, drought tolerant option and nitrogen fixer. Orbiculata can be differentiated from occidentalis by its rounder leaves, where the latter are more kidney shaped.

Soil: well-draining, low-nutrient, coarse or rocky
Sun: full
Water: do not water frequently (every two weeks in summer)
Blooms: February to May, depending on latitude and individual plants