Fam : Fabaceae
Spe.: Cercis siliquastrum L.
Common name: Judas tree, siliquastro
Etymology
The name derives from the Greek kerkís (meaning “shuttle”), referencing the resemblance of its seed pods to the weaving shuttle, and from the Latin siliqua (meaning “pod”), both referring to the shape of its fruits.
Description
It is a small tree with a broad crown and slender branches. Both the trunk and branches appear knotty and twisted. The bark is blackish-grey, tending towards a reddish hue on younger branches.
Its pink, slightly scented, pea-like flowers appear alone or in small clusters in spring directly from the bark of the trunk and branches, a phenomenon known as cauliflory.
The leaves are alternate, with a heart-shaped base and fan-shaped veins. Their rounded apex ends in a tiny tip, and the margins are wavy and entire. They emerge relatively late, in April, and turn a striking yellow in autumn before falling in late November.
The fruits are hanging pods that remain on the plant until the end of winter. Once ripe, they become purplish in colour.
Habitat
It is native to the eastern Mediterranean regions and southern Europe.
Properties and Uses
Its wood, which is employed in lathe work, also possesses dyeing properties. The flowers are edible and can be used in various culinary preparations. In addition, this plant helps regenerate depleted soils through nitrogen fixation: it captures nitrogen from the atmosphere, and bacteria in its roots release the nitrogen into the soil, enriching it.
Notes and Curiosities
Commonly called the Judas tree, it is cherished as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens due to its vivid pink blossoms. The name “Judas tree” traces back to the region of Judea in the Near East, where the plant originated before spreading across the Mediterranean.
Because of its origins and because it blooms intensely around Easter, a well-known legend associates this species with the biblical story of Judas Iscariot, who is said to have given his treacherous kiss to Jesus under such a tree and later hanged himself there in remorse. The wide acceptance of this tale suggests that the tree likely held symbolic, often passionate significance in some pre-Christian European cults as well.
The Judas tree thrives in calcareous, stony soils free of water stagnation, making it ideal for cultivation in the Heller botanical garden. Its spring display of small, cyclamen-coloured flowers heralds the arrival of warmer weather. Observing this tree through the seasons offers an ongoing incentive to revisit the garden: its foliage transitions from bronze in spring to light green in summer and then to yellow in autumn.