Cercis chinensis (Chinese redbud, "Hanazuo")

Japanese name: ハナズオウ （花蘇芳）
Scientific name: Cercis chinensis

[Overview]
A small deciduous tree growing to 2–4 m tall.
In its native range it reaches 15 m.
Young branches are somewhat zigzag.
The leaves are simple and alternate, heart-shaped, 5–10 cm in both length and width, with three conspicuous veins.
The leaf surface is glossy and the margin is entire.
The leaf stalk is 3–4 cm long, swollen at both ends.
It flowers before the leaves emerge.
Very short pseudoracemes arise from the leaf axils of the previous year's branches and bear 4–10 flowers, but because the inflorescences are short, the flowers appear to grow in bunches.
The flowers are reddish-purple pea-type flowers; white-flowered plants also exist.
The fruit is a flat pod 5–7 cm long and 1–1.3 cm wide, hanging down.

[Uses]
The bark is used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by division.
It prefers a sunny site with fertile, well-drained soil.
For potted plants, and for plants in the ground less than 2 years after planting, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground that have taken root, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer around the plant as fertilizer in winter.
If pruning, do so while the plant is leafless.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name likens the flower color to suo-zome (dyeing with sappanwood).

View this page in Japanese (日本語)