The Judas tree or ordinary Judas tree shows lush flowers early on, which can shine in pink, red or white. As a tree or shrub, it also creates an exotic flair with its unusual pods and can do without complex care. This makes the ornamental tree suitable for almost every garden and also for hobby gardeners without green thumbs and comprehensive botanical knowledge.
Table of Contents
Plant the Judas tree properly
The Judas tree can be grown as a shrub, a tree with a sprawling crown or a spherical tree with a tall stem. Small varieties or young plants do not have to be planted in the garden for this, they can be in a bucket on the balcony or terrace for the first few years.
Judas trees can grow up to six meters and in exceptional cases even up to 13 meters high. With an annual growth of up to 50cm, they need a while for this, but the ornamental tree should be planted with foresight.
Spring, after the last ground frost, is ideal for planting.
Edible flowers
The Cercis has lush inflorescences, which can be found not only along the young shoots and branches, but also on the trunks. This makes the Judas tree an exotic enrichment – on the balcony, terrace and in the garden.
The flowers are not only beautiful to look at, they are also edible. As a decoration in the salad, they conjure up a great contrast and also bring a touch of the exotic with their subtle taste.
Are Judas trees poisonous?
While the flowers are edible, the leaves, pods, and seeds can be mildly poisonous. Consumption, especially by children and animals, should therefore be avoided.
Choose a suitable location
The Judas tree originally comes from warm areas and therefore needs the same location. The deciduous tree should be sheltered from the wind but still sunny. For example on the south side of a house. However, south-facing corners in the garden that are screened off by hedges or other trees also make ideal locations. Despite the necessary protection, the planting site must receive as much direct sunlight as possible.
In addition, it must be noted that the Judas tree is relatively high and the crown can take on very expansive proportions. The plant should therefore have sufficient distance to other plants. And also to stone paths, concrete slabs and buried walls. Because the root suckers, usually after injuries, grow to a length of several meters. Even floor coverings that seem to be at a safe distance can be seriously damaged.
Pitch for the tub plant
Even as a container plant, the Judas tree needs a sunny, warm place where it is protected from cold winds. Balconies and terraces facing south are ideal.
However, caution is advised in locations where the heat builds up too much. These can become too much even for the Judas tree. Especially with very young plants, some shade should be provided at least in midsummer.
Suitable substrate for the Cercis
Judas trees need a water-permeable substrate that is calcareous. Somewhat nutrient-rich, moist loamy soil is an optimal basis for healthy growth. If this is not available or if the Judas tree is planted in a bucket, the use of Trogerde is recommended.
Waterlogging must be avoided urgently. Occasional drying out of the soil is not a danger, however, since the Judas tree is extremely drought-resistant.
What care is required?
The Judas tree is an easy-care ornamental tree that, when planted freely in the garden, rarely needs to be watered. If the Judas tree was planted in an optimal location and the right substrate was chosen, no fertilization is usually necessary.
Only a shaping trimming and removal of dead parts may be necessary from time to time, but this should be done carefully.
In winter, young plants and more sensitive varieties, such as the Chinese Judas tree, need additional winter protection.
Care in the bucket
If the Judas tree stands as a shrub or spherical tree in a bucket, it needs a little more attention than standing free in the garden.
- Water the Judas tree in the bucket if necessary, the substrate should be kept moderately moist
- Avoid waterlogging urgently
- Remove dead plant parts
- Fertilize lightly during periods of strong growth
- If necessary, carry out a soil change
watering and fertilizing
In rainy years and without extensive dry periods, free-standing Judas trees usually do not need any additional water supply. Only when it gets very warm should it be watered.
Otherwise, the substrate can be kept slightly moist, but the plants do not tolerate waterlogging.
In the bucket, watering adapted as required is necessary.
- Use soft water, such as rainwater, for watering
- Pay attention to the permeability of the substrate
- Avoid waterlogging
Only allow the substrate to dry slightly between waterings, avoid long periods of drought.
As already mentioned, Judas trees only need additional fertilization as potted plants. In the garden, given the right location and the right substrate, free-standing plants do not need any other nutrients.
Exceptions are growth problems, survived diseases or pest infestations. Then you can help with a heavily diluted complete fertilizer, blue grain or lime.
In the bucket, the same means are recommended.
- Judas trees can quickly be over-fertilized, so only work with strong dilutions
- Use additional nutrients carefully
- Fertilize the garden only when necessary
Is moving or transplanting necessary?
Judas trees that stand freely in the garden generally do not need to be transplanted. A regular change of location is therefore normally not necessary.
However, if the nature of the substrate changes, if the location proves to be unsuitable or if the roots of the ornamental tree spread too much, the Judas tree can usually be moved without any problems. At least if he’s still relatively young.
Transplanting in the tub is possible without any problems and with great effort.
- Choose spring for transplanting and repotting
- Secure as large a root ball as possible when transplanting
- Change the location of large, older plants with suitable machines
Protection from the roots
The roots of the Judas tree can spread very quickly, damaging paths and walls. The introduction of a root protection sheet can prevent such consequences, but it should be used at a suitable distance when planting.
Cut the Cercis
The Judas tree or Cercis, as these plants are called by their Latin name, do not require regular pruning. However, a shaping cutting is quite possible if you proceed gently and carefully.
In contrast to many other plants, no radical pruning may be carried out, the Judas tree takes offense and loses its natural beauty in the process.
- Cut a maximum of one third of the branch length
- Remove dead plant parts regularly and scarcely
- Prune the Judas tree in spring or fall
Apply light fertilization after cutting, this accelerates renewed sprouting and promotes dense growth.
Safe wintering
Older Judas trees are usually hardy and frost-proof, so they do not need any special winter protection. However, this cannot do any harm in particularly hard and long winters. Judas trees protected in this way tend to sprout faster and more vigorously. They are also less susceptible to parasites and diseases.
Young Judas trees, on the other hand, are very sensitive to frost and cold wind. Cercis that are planted freely in the garden should therefore be protected against negative temperatures with several layers of garden fleece, straw and piled-up brushwood for the first three to five years.
Overwintering the potted plants
Placed in a tub on the balcony or terrace, the Judas tree lacks winter hardiness. The roots cannot spread far enough with this type of planting and are more susceptible to low temperatures.
It is therefore necessary here to move the bucket to a frost-free area. For example, in a basement or a reasonably cool room. If the Judas tree is wintered indoors, it should be as bright as possible. However, the living room is still unsuitable because Judas trees benefit from the hibernation.
- Protect young Judas trees planted in the garden with mulch, leaves, grass clippings, sticks, straw and fleece
- Overwinter potted plants indoors
- Do not exceed 15°C
- set light
When can potted plants go outside again?
Potted plants should only be put back on the terrace or balcony when the snowfall and frost are definitely over. The temperatures have therefore adapted to those prevailing in the winter quarters.
Additional protection of the tub and thus the roots can be recommended in the early days when night frosts cannot yet be ruled out or the location is not too sheltered.
increase of the cercis
The Judas tree can be propagated by seeds and by cuttings. However, both variants are somewhat difficult and do not guarantee propagation success.
Propagation by seeds
Judas trees form pods that contain multiple seeds. As soon as these dry, they can be removed from the Judas tree and opened.
- Store dissolved seeds in the refrigerator for a week
- Soak the seeds in a bowl of water at room temperature
- left in the water for about a day
- put swollen seeds in potting soil and cover lightly with substrate
- Germinate in a bright place at 20°C to 23°C
- Germination time is about four weeks
- Keep the substrate moist and evenly warm the entire time
- Young plants about ten centimeters high should be pricked out
Propagation by seed can be done indoors throughout the year.
Propagation by cuttings
In addition to germinating seeds, propagation is also possible by cuttings. Just like the first variant, this one is not always crowned with success and requires some patience.
- Remove 15cm long shoots from the mother plant in summer
- Put the shoots about 5 cm deep in the potting soil, bring in the root aid to increase the chances
- Keep the substrate moist and place the cuttings in a warm, bright place
- Cuttings can also be left outdoors
- Also cover with foil in a protected place
- Formation of roots is noticeable by new shoots on the cuttings
- can take several weeks or even months
The young plants are sensitive to cold in the first year and should therefore be brought indoors in autumn. Planting in pots or tubs is therefore recommended.
diseases and pests
Judas trees are relatively immune to specific diseases and parasites. However, they can still be infested. For example, from wilt, which is caused by harmful fungi. In this case, the water veins in the wood turn a sickly brown color, which can easily be seen when cutting off a branch. If the cercis is affected by this disease, it usually cannot be saved and must be destroyed together with the surrounding soil.
If other symptoms appear, such as signs of eating, fungal growth or brown leaves, the location, housing conditions and care should be examined. Commercial pesticides can also be used if necessary.
Conclusion
Judas trees are easy-care ornamental trees that bring exoticism with their unusual flowers and hanging pods. If you don’t want to invest a lot of time and effort in the garden or the design of the balcony and terrace, but still want lush flowers, the Judas tree is the best choice.
