Cercis reniformis Oklahoma: Magenta Spring Flowers of Oklahoma Redbud

Summary: Cercis reniformis is a New World tree native to Oklahoma and Texas. Known as Oklahoma Redbud, the early spring bloomer produces profuse magenta flowers.

Cercis reniformis is appreciated outside of Oklahoma and Texas ~ Oklahoma Redbud brings vibrancy to spring in north central Alabama: Mike Wood (mwood63), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Cercis is a global genus, known commonly as redbuds, comprising 10 to 13 species. Eight species are native to the Old World.

Varying in number according to designations as species or subspecies, New World native redbuds tally at two species (Cercis canadensis, Cercis occidentalis) with three subspecies or at five species.

Cercis canadensis, the most widespread species, is known commonly as Eastern Redbud.

Cercis mexicana, known commonly as Mexican Redbud, is native to southwestern Texas and northeastern to north central Mexico.

Cercis occidentalis, known as California, or Western, Redbud, is native to Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah in the American Southwest.

Cercis reniformis, known as Oklahoma Redbud, is native to Oklahoma and to Texas east of the Pecos River.

Cercis texensis, known commonly as Texas Redbud, is native to Oklahoma and Texas.

Overlapping territories contribute to confusion in designating redbuds as subspecies or as synonyms. Cercis reniformis and Cercis texensis often have been treated as synonymous scientific names.

Among the plant registrations included in the issue of Arnoldia published by Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum for April 29, 1966, is a listing for Cercis reniformis 'Oklahoma.'

In spring 1964, Thomas Otis Warren (July 8, 1888-December 1968) and his son, Charles Preston Warren (May 23, 1932-Aug. 18, 2003), discovered a wild redbud of unknown parentage in the ancient Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma. The father-son discovery is thought to be a natural hybrid between Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) and Cercis reniformis, often considered a synonym for Texas Redbud, Cercis texensis.

As founders of Warren & Son Nursery in Nicoma Park in the eastern Oklahoma City metropolitan area of central Oklahoma, Otis and Preston developed the tree's seedlings, which Otis registered Nov. 12, 1964, as Cercis reniformis 'Oklahoma.' Warren & Son Nursery introduced their discovery, known commonly as Oklahoma Redbud, in 1965.

Oklahoma Redbud distinguishes itself with showy flowers which open in dramatic, festive shades of magenta or wine red pinkness.

Thick leaves are closely spaced and shine as glossy, dark green heart or reniform (Latin: ren, “kidney” + formis, “having the form of”) shapes until flashing brilliantly as yellow in autumn.

Purple seedpods steadfastly cling to branches into winter.

In designating the state tree on March 30, 1937, Oklahoma's statutes avoid clamor over changing scientific names by use of the common name of redbud for the Cercis genus.

Title 2 Oklahoma Statutes: Section 16-69. (State Tree -- Redbud) states:
"The redbud tree shall be adopted and the same be made the official tree of this state."

Cercis reniformis acclimates to coastal and southern ecosystems outside of the grassy flatness of the Great Plains, forested mountains of the U.S. Interior Highlands and proclivity for severe weather that characterize Oklahoma.

Found in then-designated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 in 1966, Oklahoma Redbud tolerates Zones 6b to 9a, with average annual minimum winter temperatures ranging from minus 5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20.6 to minus 17.8 degrees Celsius) to 20 to 25 degrees F (minus 6.7 to minus 3.9 degrees C).

Comfort ranges for Oklahoma Redbud as an introduced or naturalized ornamental encompass 36 of the Lower 48 states. Excluded from Oklahoma Redbud's introduced or naturalized range are twelve northernmost locales: Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Oklahoma Redbud vivifies landscapes, whether at home or beyond its native borders.

>

closeup of magenta spring flowers of Cercis reniformis; April 18, 2009: woodleywonderworks, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Oklahoma Redbud in Railroad Park, Birmingham, north central Alabama: Mike Wood (mwood63), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/74547510@N08/16753115367/

closeup of magenta spring flowers of Cercis reniformis; April 18, 2009: woodleywonderworks, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/3453948807/

For further information:

Gilman, Edward F., and Dennis G. Watson. "Cercis reniformis 'Oklahoma': Oklahoma Redbud." Fact Sheet ENH312. November 1993; reviewed May 2014. University of Florida IFAS Extension > Redbud > Southern Trees Fact Sheets > Leguminosae (Fabaceae)(taxonomic family).
Available @ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st153

Marriner, Derdriu. "Cercis mexicana: Purple Pink Spring Flowers of Mexican Redbud." Earth and Space News. Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/04/cercis-mexicana-purple-pink-spring.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Cercis siliquastrum: Deep Pink Spring Flowers of Judas or Judea Tree." Earth and Space News. Monday, April 27, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/04/cercis-siliquastrum-deep-pink-spring.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Cercis texensis: Showy Pink to Purple Red Flowers of Texas Redbud." Earth and Space News. Thursday, April 30, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/04/cercis-texensis-showy-pink-to-purple.html

Nordine, Ray. "New Plan Session." Proceedings of the International Plant Propagator's Society, vol. 16 (1966): 291-293.

The Oklahoma Forestry Code: Title 2, Article 16 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Oklahoma City OK: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry - Forestry Services Division, July 1, 2007.
Available @ http://www.forestry.ok.gov/Websites/forestry/Images/code,%202007.pdf

Wyman, Donald. "International Plant Registration." Arnoldia, vol. 23, No. 5 (May 31, 1963): 85-92.
Available @ http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1963-23--inernational-plant-registration.pdf

Wyman, Donald. "More Plant Registrations." Arnoldia, vol. 26, No. 3 (April 29, 1966): 13-16.
Available @ http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1966-26--more-plant-registrations.pdf