Native: California foothills, Arizona, and Utah.

General Notes:

Cercis occidentalis in Santa Rosa is registered as a California Big Tree. It measures 45 feet high, with a trunk circumference of 71 inches and a crown spread of 38 feet.

Tree Characteristics

  • Drought tolerant.
  • Shape: Rounded or Umbrella
  • Foliage:  Deciduous, Round, Blue Green, Gray Green or Medium Green, Red, Gold or Multicolored
  • Height: 10 - 20 feet.
  • Width: 10 - 20 feet.
  • Flowers: Showy. Purple. Flowers in Spring. Has perfect flowers (male and female parts in each flower).
  • Fruit: Prolific, Brown or Purple Pod, Large (1.50 - 3.00 inches), fruiting in Summer or Fall.
  • Bark: Dark Brown or Red Brown, Scaly.
  • Shading Capacity: Moderate in Leaf, Moderate out of Leaf.
  • Litter Issue: Dry Fruit.

Tree Site Conditions & Constraints

  • Zones: Sunset 2 – 24, USDA Hardiness 7 - 9.
  • Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Pests & Disease Information

  • Resistant: Oak Root Fungus.
  • Susceptible: Caterpillars and Scales, Crown Rot, Phytophthora and Root Rot.

Health, Safety & Environmental Concerns

  • Branch Strength: Medium.
  • Root Damage Potential: Low.
  • Health Hazard: None Known
  • Biogenic Emissions: Low.

Source:

SelecTree. "Cercis occidentalis Tree Record." 1995-2018. Mar 20, 2018. < https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/cercis-occidentalis >

Updated: June 20, 2023