Eastern Redbud

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

2

Native Status

❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

SE

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.3 – Atlantic Highlands, 5.3.1 – Northern Appalachians and Atlantic Maritime Highlands

Rarity Notes

Ranked SX (Extirpated) in Ontario and NX nationally in Canada. Globally secure (G5). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. The species historically occurred in southernmost Ontario but is now considered extirpated from the province. GBIF specimens from Ottawa (1965, Porsild) are from a small grove on a railroad embankment, likely not a native population.

S22 SX in ON, NX in CA, G5 globally; S26 not SARA listed; S48 Ottawa specimen context

Rarity Ranks

ON SX – Extirpated

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Understory tree of rich mesic deciduous forests, stream banks, and limestone bluffs throughout the eastern United States. Favours south-facing slopes with greater light and reduced competition, and is prevalent on calcareous soils derived from limestone. Typically found as scattered individuals or small groups in the understorey of oak-hickory and mixed hardwood forests. Reaches the northern limit of its native range in southern Michigan and southern Ontario; extirpated from Ontario.

S41 habitat; S7 rich forests along rivers; S4 limestone bluffs; S22 SX in ON

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Medicinal Properties

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Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Astringent, Febrifuge, Antiemetic, Pulmonary Aid, Respiratory Aid

S28 Moerman categories; S29 astringent, febrifuge, dysentery, pectoral

Notes

Inner bark tea is highly astringent, used in traditional medicine for fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery. Alabama and Mendocino Indian peoples used root and bark infusions as a febrifuge. Cherokee used bark infusion for whooping cough. Delaware used bark infusion for vomiting and fever. A cold infusion of roots and inner bark was used for chest complaints including congestion. Also cited as a folk remedy for leukaemia.

S28 Alabama, Cherokee, Delaware, Mendocino uses; S29 astringent bark tea, dysentery, febrifuge, leukaemia folk remedy

Edibility & Foraging

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Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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✅ Edible   

Foraging Notes

Flowers eaten raw in salads or fried, providing a refreshing acid taste rich in vitamin C. Unopened buds can be pickled as a caper substitute. Cherokee children ate blossoms. Navajo and Kayenta Navajo roasted pods in ashes and ate the seeds. Young seed pods may be eaten like snow peas. Seeds contain 22.9-27.5% protein.

S29 flowers raw or pickled, vitamin C; S28 Cherokee food, Navajo roasted seeds; S4 flowers and buds in salads

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database. USDA toxicity rating is None. PFAF notes the plant contains a toxic saponin, but saponins are poorly absorbed by the body, largely pass through without harm, and are broken down by cooking. Saponins are common in many legume family foods. No significant toxicity concern for humans or livestock.

S38 not listed; S11 Toxicity=None; S29 saponin present but poorly absorbed

Seed Source

• NANPS
• Arboquebecium