Cercis canadensis. Leguminosae. Redbud or Judas-Tree. Central
and Northern areas. Deciduous. Native.
 This small tree rarely grows taller than 30 feet and is identified
easily during spring when clusters of small, rose-colored, pea-like
flowers are produced in profusion on old and new wood before leaves
appear. Leaves are simple, cordate, wider than long and heart shaped
in outline. Redbud can be found in wooded areas from northern
Florida as far south as Orlando.
 Redbud is one of the best and favorite small flowering trees
available for central and northern Florida. It can be used as a fram-
ing tree for small homes, as a specimen tree or included in shrubbery
borders and also as a residential street tree. When used as a street
tree, plants should be spaced 25 to 35 feet apart. This tree is fre-
quently attacked by borers and several fungi that enter open wounds
and cause decay.

 Chionanthus virginica. Oleaceae. Fringe-Tree or Old Man's Beard.
Central and Northern areas. Deciduous. Native.
 Although often classed as a large shrub, fringe tree will reach
a height of 25 to 30 feet in northern Florida (Fig. 20). Crowns vary
from round and dense to narrow and open with spreading or erect
branches arising from a short trunk. Leaves are usually opposite,
simple, oblong to obovate-oblong, deep green, leathery, from 4 to 8
inches long and turn clear yellow in the fall. Greenish-white flowers
are borne in loose panicles 5 to 8 inches long in spring about the same
time leaves appear. Loose clusters of oblong, blue to purple fruits,
about an inch long, ripen in early fall.
 Fringe tree is not widely planted, perhaps because of its slow
growth and deciduous character. It has been a favorite in older gar-
dens and is desirable since it is one of the latest spring flowering

Fig. 19.-The deodar cedar, Cedrus deodra (left) and Fig. 20 fringe-tree, Chio-
 nanthus virginica.


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