Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Redbud Leaf Identification
Redbud Leaf Identification. Redbuds (Cercis family) are popular ornamental trees with a stunning flowering stage that lasts for several weeks in spring. There are more than two dozen varieties but eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is the most widespread by far. No matter what redbud variety you look at, the leaves have several things in common:...
Redbuds (Cercis family) are popular ornamental trees with a stunning flowering stage that lasts for several weeks in spring. There are more than two dozen varieties but eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is the most widespread by far. No matter what redbud variety you look at, the leaves have several things in common: the length of the petiole or stem, their color, shape and veining. Redbud leaves can be identified quickly as soon as you know what to look for.
Look for redbud leaves in the second week of May in most areas. Closed buds are a dark red; new leaves will be tiny, thin, shiny and light reddish-green.
Observe the shape. Redbud leaves are the shape of blunt heart, wide and round at the top, pointing sharply at the bottom.
Look at the veining. Redbuds have five to nine clearly delineated, pale green veins that spring from a common point at the base of the leaf.
Check the length of the petiole, or stem. On a redbud, the petiole is the same length as the leaf.
Wait for fall. When autumn nights turn crisp, leaves on the interior of a redbud tree will turn yellow, while the outer leaves remain green. In some parts of the Midwest, redbud leaves can remain green and on the tree as late as mid-December.
