Plant Details

Cercis siliquastrum

Judas Tree

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Cercis siliquastrum.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

37 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (27)
Dutch
  • Europese judasboom[1]
  • Judasboom
French
  • Arbre de Judée[1]
Arabic
  • زمزريق أثيبي[1]
  • شجرة يهوذا[1]
Armenian
  • Ցերցիս եվրոպական[1]
Basque
  • Judasen zuhaitza[1]
Catalan
  • Arbre de l'amor[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 南欧紫荆[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 南歐紫荊[1]
  • 猶大紫荊[1]
Czech
  • zmarlika Jidášova[1]
Danish
  • Almindelig judastræ[1]
Estonian
  • harilik juudapuu[1]
Finnish
  • juudaksenpuu[1]
German
  • Gewöhnlicher Judasbaum[1]
Greek
  • Κουτσουπιά[1]
Hebrew
  • כליל החורש[1]
Hungarian
  • közönséges júdásfa[1]
Italian
  • Albero di Giuda[1]
  • siliquastro[1]
Japanese
  • セイヨウハナズオウ[1]
Polish
  • Judaszowiec południowy[1]
  • Judaszowiec wschodni[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Багрянник европейский[1]
  • Церцис европейский[1]
Serbian
  • Judino drvo[1]
  • Јудино дрво[1]
Slovak
  • judášovec strukový[1]
Spanish
  • Árbol de Judas[1]
  • Árbol del amor[1]
Thai
  • ยูดาสทรี[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Юдине дерево звичайне[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Cercis siliquastrum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Judas-tree — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Olaia — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Judas Tree — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Árbol del amor — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • כליל החורש — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Albero di Giuda — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Arbre de Judée — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • siliquastro — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Gewöhnlicher Judasbaum — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • zmarlika Jidášova — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Arbre de l'amor — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Багрянник европейский — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Europese judasboom — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • judášovec strukový — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • セイヨウハナズオウ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Κουτσουπιά — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • harilik juudapuu — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • زمزريق أثيبي — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • شجرة يهوذا — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • 南欧紫荆 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Ցերցիս եվրոպական — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Almindelig judastræ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • ยูดาสทรี — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Юдине дерево звичайне — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Erguvan — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Јудино дрво — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Judino drvo — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Церцис европейский — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Judaszowiec południowy — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Judaszowiec wschodni — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • közönséges júdásfa — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • 猶大紫荊 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • 南歐紫荊 — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Árbol de Judas — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • juudaksenpuu — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.
  • Judasen zuhaitza — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 153440; Cercis siliquastrum.

General information

Scientific name: Cercis siliquastrum
Accepted name (Kew): Cercis siliquastrum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Cercis (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Judas Tree
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.57–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 4.57–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Seed capsule
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Wood, Bee forage

Description

Eat flowers raw for a sweet and slightly sour taste; they make a beautiful addition to salads. The flower buds can be pickled and used as a spice. You can also eat seed pods raw.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded
Sources [3]
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1342309; name ID 2711402; Cercis L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1342336; name ID 2711441; Cercis siliquastrum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Cercis siliquastrum

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5166167, ID SSR7: Cercis siliquastrum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Cercis siliquastrum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .