Redbud, Cercis canadenis, which has purple pea-like flowers, is sometimes called Judas tree. This is a head scratcher until you find out that among the different Cercis species is one, Cercis siliquastrum that grows in the Mediterranean area of Europe. Folklore gives the story that in despair for betraying Christ, Judas Iscariot hung himself from this tree, The tale continues with the tree itself, feeling shame, going from being tall and straight with white flowers to growing in a zig-zag branching pattern useless for timber and with pink/purple flowers. When people from the the Mediterranean areas of Europe came to North America and saw native redbuds, they called them by the familiar name of Judas tree. Stories and folklore are fascinating but our scientific names, sometimes hard to pronounce, are spot on for proper identification.
"Judas tree"
