Cercis 'Bodnant'

The Cercis siliquastrum better known as the Judas Tree is the only known variant of the Cercis to have Mediterranean origins opposed to Chinese or American. Ensuring that the Cercis siliquastrum is planted with a high exposure to sunlight is essential if you expect it to flourish just as it would in the Mediterranean.

The Judas Tree is a stunning medium sized tree or large shrub is known for its abundant display of small lilacy-pink flowers upon its bare branches in the Spring time. These flowers are followed in quick succession by purple tinged seed pods in the Summer.

The leaves of the Cercis siliquastrum are green and roughly heart-shaped, these emerge shortly after the appearance of its flowers, these leaves turn amber in the Autumn. This particular tree is very deserving of sunny place in the garden, the Judas Tree will thrive in most soil, and is reasonably tolerant of drought once established.

Due to the blossom of the Cercis siliquastrum being so eye-catching, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded the tree a First-Class Certificate in 1944, after which it attained the cultivar name ‘Bodnant’.

The notion for the common name ‘Judas Tree’ is that of the myth that Judas Iscriot hung himself from this tree after his betrayal of Jesus Christ.