Cercis is the name of the genus of Judas trees. Europe is home to the Cercis siliquastrum = common Judas tree.

According to legend, the apostle Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, hanged himself from a "Cercis" after his betrayal. Its flowers would then have blushed with shame.

A deciduous, broad shrub or small tree up to six meters tall; initially upright, later spreading. An attraction in parks and gardens due to its striking stem flowering, picturesque growth and heart-shaped, glossy leaves.

The word canadensis comes from the Neo-Latin and means Canadian.

Leaves: alternate, roundish heart-shaped, up to 12 centimetres long, bluish green, smooth

Bark: red-black-brown, shiny; bark: olive-brown

Flowers: white, purple-pink butterfly flowers in short clusters on perennial wood. Flowers form on older stems in spring.

Fruits: up to 12 centimetres long, flat, brown pods, pods that remain on the stem in winter

Characteristics: sensitive to frost when young, tolerates long periods of heat and drought