Judas tree

Cercis siliquastrum

Layer 2 · Understorey
Nitrogen fixer

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean region and Western Asia, the Judas tree is a deciduous tree famous for its pink-purple blossom that appears directly on bare branches before the leaves. In a food forest, it acts as a support species that attracts vital pollinators in early spring, as well as providing edible flowers. Although it belongs to the legume family, this species does not fix nitrogen in the soil.

See which trees Judas tree grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Small tree from 4 to 6 m
Mature diameter: 4 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean

Calendar

January — Planting
February — Planting
March — Planting
April — Harvest
May — Harvest
June
July
August
September
October
November — Planting
December — Planting

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Its edible flowers, with a tangy flavour, are used as a light condiment in salads.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Apple tree

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

Grapevine

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.