Native: California foothills, Arizona, and Utah.
General Notes:
A 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