Edible Plants: Redbud

The lovely pink flowers of Redbud ("Cercis canadensis") appear before its leaves. Not only does this versatile tree provide edible flowers, but its leaves and young pods are edible too.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• flowers
• edible
• raw
• foraging
• ornamental
• tree
• salads
• survival
• redbud
• pods
• gardening
• permaculture
• eastern
• Blanche
• Cybele
• Derby

[zuditaka]

Nice video. I'm now wondering if the Judas Tree, the Redbud's close relative, can be used in the same way. The name Judas Tree makes one think it is a very naughty tree and, thus, not useful; and possibly even poison! Parsley is a close relative of hemlock, and looks similar, so I suppose we can't jump to conclusions about any plant's edibility. The Japanese star anise causes seizures and the one used in cooking--from China or Russia does not. Or have I got the countries backwards?

[thederb720]

@zuditaka

Both trees have the same genus name, "Cercis," so clearly they're related. The species name of mine is "canadensis". I looked up your species name ("siliquastrum") in Stephen Facciola's book "Cornucopia 11"-- a book that I trust is accurate-- & he says that your variety indeed is edible.He says flowers can be eaten raw or frittered/buds pickled in vinegar (I've never done this) He doesn't mention the edibility of leaves or pods altho' he did with my species. Hope this helps.--Blanche

[thederb720]

If you look closely in my wild rose video you'll see that i filmed a short clip by the ocean. This was at Onset MA , a small town just before the Bourne Bridge that connects the mainland to Cape Cod.

[GameMayhem]

now only if this winter will end, i liove in new england, massachusetts to be specific and as you know there is still plenty of snow around, except for the cape, the cape is bare

[thederb720]

@GameMayhem I summered on the Cape for many years; the weather there is unique. It has many abundant edibles--my favorites being wild blueberries, juneberries & wineberries. (Just writing their names here makes me yearn for the salt air...--Blanche

[zuditaka]

Wiki: In some parts of southern Appalachia green twigs from Eastern redbud are used as seasoning for wild game such as venison and opossum.Because of this,in these mountain areas Eastern redbud is sometimes known as spicewood tree.Native Americans consumed redbud flowers raw or boiled,and ate roasted seeds.Analysis of edible parts of eastern redbud reported flower extract contains anthocyanins.Green developing seeds proanthocyanides. Linolenic, alpha-linolenic,oleic and palmitic acids in seeds.♥

[GameMayhem]

@thederb720 it truly is my favorite place to be, wild roses, which you have previously covered, grow rampantly I also have stumbled upon goose berries though i'm not sure if they occurred there naturally or not