Cercis occidentalis

Western redbud is in the pea or Fabaceae family and is native to the American southwest including California, Utah and Arizona. It is a large shrub or small tree and stands out when in bloom with its pink to purple pea-like flowers.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, untoothed, and heart shaped to round, 7–15 cm long and wide, not folded in the middle ( unlike C. siliquastrum). Petioles are swollen at the ends.
• Bud clusters on the branches and even stems develop into many clusters of magenta pink flowers (although a white-flowered variety has been developed) about 1.5 cm long in spring.
• Fruit is a flattened, brown pod, 6–10 cm long containing flat, elliptical seeds which are produced in the fall.
• Twigs are slender and zigzag, gray brown; buds in winter are oval, pointed, singular or in small clusters.