The redbud’s Latin name, Cercis, is equally pedestrian: it is taken from the Greek kerkis which means “a weaver’s shuttle” and refers to the shape of the tree’s seed pods.

Each of the 2-4 inch long pods contain 4-12 flat, elliptical brown to black kidney-shaped seeds. There are many cultivars available, just double check cold hardiness.

It does not set the redbud’s distinctive (and perhaps undesirable) seed pods and is also more resistant to a canker disease that can afflict the native tree. Leaves of a Hearts of Gold redbud tree.

Redbud seeds are produced in the fall. If they germinated, the seedlings would not have much time to establish before freezing winter temperatures and would likely die.

Redbuds produce clusters of seed pods in late summer that can persist on the tree. Plant Medic columnist Ricky Kemery recommends removing them before they fall to help prevent seedlings ...

Pockets of bright pink will begin dotting river fronts and other open spaces in Pittsburgh over the next few weeks. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will plant 400 Eastern redbud trees this ...