This variety is not widely available nor is it recommended for NC gardens. Please consider planting Cercis canadensis and its cultivars. Mexican redbud is a woody, deciduous, perennial shrub or tree in the Fabaceae (bean) family that can grow 11 to 15 feet high and 11 to 15 feet wide. It has a dense rounded crown. This redbud is native to southwest Texas to northeastern Mexico. The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis which means weaver’s shuttle, referring to the seed pod resembling the size and shape of a weaver’s shuttle which is used to move thread back and forth on a loom. The common name redbud comes from its inner bark that bears a reddish color. It grows best in all types of soil, including shallow rocky areas, that have good drainage and are occasionally dry. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Propagation is recommended by seed or stem cutting. There has been much debate over the distinction between Cercis canadensis var. mexicana and Cercis canadensis var. texensis . Morphologically, the two varieties are very similar and are often distinguished from one another based on geographic distribution. More often than not, the leaf blade of var. mexicana exhibits an undulate margin whereas the leaf blade of var. texensis is typically flat. Plant Mexican redbud in areas of the landscape where its showy, pea-like spring flowers will be enjoyed. It does well in butterfly, pollinator, native, and drought tolerant garden themes. Mexican redbud does well with numerous design themes and attracts bees, butterflies, and birds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf cutter bees can damage the foliage. Root rot and stem rot can appear on trees grown in moist or poorly drained soils. This tree can suffer from damage caused by deer. The falling seed pods can create a litter problem. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Cercis canadensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withCercis canadensis subsp. texensis 'Oklahoma'
Fills a similar nicheCercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'Cercis canadensis 'Whitewater'Cercis 'Merlot'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 11 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 11 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Reniform
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-6 in. alternate, simple, dark silvery/green, leathery leaves with undulating margins; develops glossy appearance with age. Thicker cuticle allows for greater drought tolerance than C. canadensis.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Red, pea-like flowers in clusters in early spring.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
The fruit is a legume that appears green and turns to brown as it ages.
Stem detail
The stems are thicker and more rigid than species. Grows in a multi-stemmed form.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South West Texas to North Eastern Mexico
Distribution
TX
Wildlife value
Larval host to Henry's Elfin butterfly. Attractive to native bees and bumble bees.