Judas tree
Avoid moving or disturbing the roots of an established plant — this genus resents transplanting once settled, so choose the final position with care.
Care
Shelter from cold, drying wind.
Dislikes both drought and waterlogging, especially while young.
Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates chalky/alkaline ground well.
Minimal — formative pruning only while young; resents hard pruning, and older wood is slow to reshoot or may not recover.
A light general feed in spring while young, then nothing beyond a mulch. More important is not to disturb it: cercis resents root disturbance and transplanting far more than it minds a poor diet.
From seed, which needs both scarification and a cold period to germinate — nick the hard coat and sow outdoors in autumn. Named purple-leaved forms are grafted and will not come true.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- JanuaryFormative pruning only, while young and fully dormant. how ›
- AprilEnjoy the striking pink-purple flowers, which appear directly on bare branches and the trunk before the leaves.
- OctoberEnjoy the heart-shaped leaves colouring into autumn.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryFormative pruning only, while young and fully dormant. how ›
- AprilEnjoy the striking pink-purple flowers, which appear directly on bare branches and the trunk before the leaves.
- OctoberEnjoy the heart-shaped leaves colouring into autumn.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryFormative pruning only, while young and fully dormant. how ›
- MarchEnjoy the striking pink-purple flowers, which appear directly on bare branches and the trunk before the leaves.
- OctoberEnjoy the heart-shaped leaves colouring into autumn.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryFormative pruning only, while young and fully dormant. how ›
- MarchEnjoy the striking pink-purple flowers, which appear directly on bare branches and the trunk before the leaves.
- NovemberEnjoy the heart-shaped leaves colouring into autumn.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Small orange-pink pustules on dead or pruned wood.
What to do. Remove and dispose of affected wood promptly.
How to spot it. Sudden branch dieback.
What to do. Cut out affected wood promptly.
How to spot it. To young growth after a late cold snap.
What to do. Shelter young plants in exposed sites.
Questions
Judas tree: is it hardy?
H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Can be grown in a large pot while young, for several years.
Judas tree: when do you prune it?
Minimal — formative pruning only while young; resents hard pruning, and older wood is slow to reshoot or may not recover. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in January.
Judas tree: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in April–May.
When do you feed it?
A light general feed in spring while young, then nothing beyond a mulch. More important is not to disturb it: cercis resents root disturbance and transplanting far more than it minds a poor diet. Feeding months, UK: April.