Are Redbud Tree Flowers Edible?

Are redbud tree flowers edible? Are redbud trees poisonous to humans? Learn how to forage for these delicious treats!

Reader Contribution by Leda Meredith
Updated on February 29, 2024
article image

Are redbud tree flowers edible? Are redbud trees poisonous to humans? Learn how to forage for these delicious treats! Redbud flowers’ bright pink blossoms yields delicious flavor that is like a green bean with a lemony aftertaste.

Can You Eat Redbud Trees?

Different species of redbud grow in different parts of the world, each with edible blossoms. In eastern North America, look for Cercis canadensis; in California and other western states, look for C. occidentalis; and around the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia you’ll find C. siliquastrum.

Redbud is a favorite with landscapers, who have spread it as far as Australia and South Africa. It is also because of landscapers that you’ll often find it growing in urban and suburban areas. Left to its own devices, redbud likes to grow on sunny slopes but can survive as an understory tree or shrub.

How to Identify Redbud Trees

Redbuds are small trees with branches that often grow in a quirky zigzag pattern. The bark of young redbuds is smooth but becomes craggy as the trees mature. The clusters of pink or magenta blossoms appear before the leaves and seem to be growing directly out of the bark. The individual blossoms have an irregular shape like pea flowers, and indeed redbud is in the same legume plant family (Fabaceae) as peas.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368