Cercis canadensis
| Cercis canadensis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 39' |
| Width: | 33' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Cercis canadensis (common name: redbud)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water then cold stratify for 3 months[2]. Sow spring in the greenhouse[3]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Plants resent root disturbance and are best planted out in their permanent positions as soon as possible[4].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils and pH types, but dislikes growing in wet soils, especially when these are of clay[1]. Prefers a deep sandy loam and a very sunny position[4][5][6]. Succeeds in light shade[1]. Dislikes drought[1].
Although the dormant plant is cold-hardy, the young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].
A fast-growing but short-lived tree in the wild[7]. It does not flower freely in Britain[8]. There is at least one named form, selected for its ornamental value[8].
This spcies is the state tree of Oklahoma[9].
The flowers are produced on the branches of the previous or earlier years, and also on the trunk of the plant[10].
Plants are susceptible to coral spot fungus, especially when growing in areas with cooler summers where the wood is not fully ripened[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
A good bee plant[11].
Resents root disturbance, plants should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible, preferably in May, and should be kept well watered until established[4][8].
This species is one of the few members of the family Leguminosae that do not fix atmospheric nitrogen[12].
Range: Eastern and Central N. America - New York to Florida, west to Texas and Wisconsin[13].
Habitat: Rich woods, ravines and borders of streams[14][10]. It often forms a distinct understorey in woodlands[7].
Edibility: Flowers - raw[15][16][17][18] or pickled[19][20][11]. A nice refreshing acid taste, the flowers are rich in vitamin C and make a pleasant addition to salads[18][K]. They can also be used as a condiment[1]. The unopened buds are pickled or used as a caper substitute[18].
On a zero moisture basis, the seed contains 22.9 - 27.5% protein, 7.7 - 8.8% fat and 3% ash[21]. (This report does not say if the seed is edible[K].)
Medicinal: A tea made from the inner bark is highly astringent[15][16][17][11][13]. Used in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea and dysentery, it is also a folk remedy for leukaemia[13].
A cold infusion of the roots and inner bark have been used to treat various chest complaints including whooping cough and congestion[22].
Usage: The bark of young shoots is used in basket making[17][23].
Wood - heavy, hard, not strong, close grained, takes a very fine polish[10][17]. It weighs 40lb per cubic foot[24].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is reported to contain a toxic saponin[9]. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in m
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Vines, Robert. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, 1987.
- ↑ Lauriault, Jean. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Sweet, Muriel. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co, 1962.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.