Plant Database
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
The Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is California’s own native gem. Perfectly adapted to our dry summers, it thrives with no summer water once established. Its graceful, multi-trunked form, vibrant pink spring flowers, and brilliant yellow fall color make it an essential, low-maintenance tree for authentic, water-wise Bay Area landscapes.
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A California native superstar, incredibly adapted to dry slopes, full sun, and the mineral soils of the Bay Area’s foothills and valleys.
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Blooms with cheerful magenta-pink flowers on bare branches in early spring, followed by distinctive blue-green, rounded leaves.
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Provides one of the best fall color displays among redbuds, turning a clear, bright yellow or golden-orange.
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Requires little to no summer water once established, making it a cornerstone of drought-tolerant and native gardens.
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Typically grows as a large, multi-branched shrub or small tree with a graceful, airy structure.