Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

A dazzling tree, Western Redbud bursts into bloom with magenta flowers before its leaves appear. Native to the interior West, including California’s foothills, the Sierra Nevada, and the canyons of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, it thrives in dry canyons, foothills, and chaparral slopes, offering early nectar to pollinators and shelter to wildlife. With heart-shaped leaves and drought tolerance, it’s a striking addition to native gardens and natural landscapes of the arid West.