Taxon: Cercis canadensis L.

Summary

Genus:

Cercis

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Cercidoideae

Tribe:

Cercideae

Subtribe:

Cercidinae

Nomen number:

300123

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:374. 1753

Protologue link:

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358393

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

04/03/2007 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

122 (105 active, 7 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Cercis canadensis L. var. canadensis (13 active accession[s])
Cercis canadensis L. var. mexicana (Rose) M. Hopkins (5 active accession[s])
Cercis canadensis L. var. texensis (S. Watson) M. Hopkins (11 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
Graham, E. H. 1941. Legumes for erosion control and wildlife. USDA Misc. Publ. 412.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(2):142.
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Kunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
Little, E. L., Jr. 1978. Important forest trees of the United States
Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
Meyer, F. G. et al. 1994. A catalog of cultivated woody plants of the southeastern United States
Radford, A. E. et al., eds. 1980-. Vascular flora of the southeastern United States.
Turland, N. J. & C. E. Jarvis. 1997. Typification of Linnaean specific and varietal names in the Leguminosae (Fabaceae). Taxon 46:466. Note: lectotypify
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	Judastree	1	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
English	redbud	1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Swedish	amerikanskt judasträd	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska	e.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan	s.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua	e.	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico	s.e.	Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(2):142.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(2):142.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(2):142.

Native
Northern America

NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Michigan (s.), New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska (e.), Oklahoma]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico (s.e.), Texas]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chihuahua (e.), Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Northern America

NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York]

Reference(s)

Fritsch, P. W. et al. 2009. Taxonomic implications of morphological variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and adjacent parts of Texas. Syst. Bot. 34:510-520. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
Isely, D. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25(2):142.
Isely, D. 1998. Native and naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) of the United States (exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii)
Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:559-902.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=300123. Accessed 15 April 2026.