Question:
I read your article on the Judas tree today and have this quote from another source in connection with the Judas tree.
"But every insect--bee or butterfly--that ventures to rest upon the edge of its blossom is overcome by a fatal, curious sort of opiate, or sleeping-draught which the flower-juice contains, and drops dead upon the ground beneath!"
I was wondering if this is fact. Could you help with this inquiry?
My Answer:
Your Judas tree is associated with, and the common name of, many world-wide members of the redbud family (Cercis). Our native North American redbud or Cercis canadensis is a beautiful tree and a favorite food for butterfly larvae and a long-tounged bee magnet (see my photo gallery). To my knowledge, it is not an opiate and does not negatively affect any flora or fauna.
The specific redbud that is most often labeled Judas tree is Cercis siliquastrum and lives in Mediterranean and Asia minor countries. That tree is the one most associated as "Judea's tree" and is supposedly the tree Judas Iscariot hanged himself after betraying Christ.
Mature Redbud in Central Park, NYC - Photo © 2007 Steve Nix, licensed to About.com
Comments
In the above article Redbud- The Judas Tree there is a photo of a Redbud that I guess was taken in Central Park. I know there are several varieties of Redbud and I would like to purchase one that has the violet/purple-ish blossoms shown in this photo. Could you please tell me what variety this one is? Thanks
Can a Judas Tree grow in South Jersey.
I have several in my yard. They grow all over the place around here. N. W. Ohio They are small trees, with short trunks. They grow around the edges of woods and open areas, aka my yard. If there are seeds they will grow. When i first moved here there was a very large one in my yard. 25′ or so tall I had to cut it down for a building. I hated to do this but used it to heat the house later on. They are some of the first real beauty to be seen in the spring. This soon falls to the ground and a small handsome tree remains. If it grows in Ohio it will grow in S. Jersey.
Yes, they’ll grow in South Jersey. In Baltimore they spread all over by means of those seeds and people can end up having yards full of them if they let them get going.
I assume the photo is your standard Eastern Redbud. My suggestion, though, is to not get that one. Get the Forest Pansy Redbud. The bud is a little more purplish and it’s a much heartier tree and doesn’t have the problems (disease, etc.) that the standard Redbuds have.
I totally agree Pook. Stick with a recommended cultivar including the pinks and whites…
Here on Good Friday we are having our 50ft. Eastern Redbud taken down due to disease and rot. We live near Seattle and were told when we moved in that this tree was the largest Eastern Redbud wes of the Mississippi. We are very sad to see it go.
Boy, would I have liked to see a picture of it. They are not very common out there. Sorry about your loss:(.