Cercis occidentalis --Western Redbud--

Small tree or shrub 10-20 ft., native to the American Southwest. Heart-shaped leaves that progress from light green to a deeper shade as they age, often transitioning to gold or red in cooler weather at higher elevations. From March until May, the shrub comes alive with clusters of striking pink/magenta flowers, creating an incredible burst of color. Indigenous Californians traditionally used its thin, dry, 3-inch-long brown legume pods and twigs to weave baskets, often pruning the shrub to encourage new growth. The bark of the tree provides a subtly reddish dye for the finished basketry. Wildlife and drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators.