Trail Stop 3

Website by Cloudburst Designs.

Nature Trails

Redbud

Redbud is desired as a landscape shrub for its showy pink to purple spring flowers that contrast well with the white flower of dogwood. Strips of the red bark were used extensively for basket weaving by Native Americans.

Try this: add the fresh flowers and flower buds to salads, breads, and pancakes. They have a pleasant, slightly sour flavor and are very high in vitamin C.

Quick ID:
Small tree. Look for leathery, reddish-brown seed pods (legumes). Leaves simple, alternate, and often cordate. Principal veins radiate from the leaf base. Bark smooth and gray.