the eastern redbud is a small tree in the legume family. unlike the locusts, the eastern redbud does not have thorns. The eastern redbud typically grows to 6–9 m (20–30 ft) tall with an 8–10 m (26–33 ft) crown. It normally has a short, often twisted trunk and spreading branches. A 10-year-old tree will generally be around 5 m (16 ft) tall. The bark is dark in color, smooth, later scaly with ridges somewhat apparent, sometimes with maroon patches. The twigs are slender and zigzag, nearly black in color, spotted with lighter lenticels. The winter buds are tiny, rounded and dark red to chestnut in color. Simple, alternate, heart-shaped leaves with entire margins, 7–12 cm long and wide, thin and papery, and slightly hairy below. They appear in clusters from spring to early summer, on bare stems before the leaves, sometimes on the trunk, light to deep magenta in color. There are cultivars with white flowers. The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees such as blueberry bees and carpenter bees. Short-tongued bees cannot reach the nectar. It matures from August to October and the fruits are flattened, dry, brown, pea-like pods measuring 5–10 cm long.