Judas Tree(Cercis siliquastrum)

The Judas tree, European redbud or love tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is one of the best ornamental treesyou can grow. It has beautiful spring blosson – in late spring, the bare branches are smothered in pea-like magenta flowers, which are followed by pretty, heart-shaped leaves that turn butter yellow before falling in autumn. Purple seed pods appear in summer.

As it's slow growing and relatively compact, reaching around 3 to 4 yards in 20 years, the Judas tree is one of the best trees for small gardens. It's often multi-stemmed, which means it has an architectural appearance even when the branches are bare in winter.

There are a few theories surrounding the tree's English name. One suggests it was the tree that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from after betraying Jesus. However as the tree grows widely in Israel and Palestine, it could be a corruption of the word 'Judea'.