1. A genus of small trees or shrubs in the legume family, native to North America, Europe, and Asia, known for their heart-shaped leaves and pink or purple flowers that bloom before the leaves appear.
Usage: botanical; often capitalized when referring to the genus; commonly called redbud or Judas tree

Examples

• The cercis tree in our garden blooms with vibrant pink flowers every spring.
• Cercis canadensis, the eastern redbud, is a popular ornamental tree in North America.
• The delicate flowers of cercis appear on bare branches before the leaves unfold.
• Gardeners often plant cercis for its early spring color and attractive foliage.
• The cercis genus includes several species adapted to different climates.