Judas tree origin

The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree and belongs to the legume family. It originally comes from southern Europe and the Middle East. The Judas tree reaches a height of 8 to 12 m and an age of up to 100 years.

In cultural history, the Judas tree has been important in many countries and cultures. It is often mentioned in the Bible and Christian tradition claims that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on a Judas tree and its flowers then blushed in shame.

The Judas tree is known for its early flowering, which appears in April or May, before the leaves sprout. The flowers are usually purple, but there are also white and pink varieties. The flowers are arranged in large, densely packed panicles.
The heart-shaped leaves are alternate and green. In autumn the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The fruits of the Judas tree are elongated pods that ripen in late summer or early autumn and turn brown. The seeds are small and brown.

In traditional medicine, the leaves and bark of the tree are used to treat various ailments. The Judas tree is a popular ornamental plant and can be planted in parks and gardens.

Judas tree care and location

Judas trees like a sunny location with well-drained, nutrient-rich and moist soil. The soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline. The best time to plant is in spring or autumn.

Pruning Judas tree

Regular pruning is not necessary for Judas trees as they develop into a good shape on their own. However, damaged or out-of-shape branches should be removed. However, this should only be done in the winter months as the tree is dormant during this time and will suffer less damage.

Watering the Judas tree

Due to climate change, it is getting hotter in our regions and longer dry periods are the result. This has an impact on the environment and especially on the trees. The increasing dryness and rising temperatures lead to stress in trees. Depending on the location and the climate situation, more frequent watering may be necessary than in previous years. Newly planted trees still need to take root and need a lot of water, but even with fully grown trees, care should be taken to ensure that the soil remains evenly moist. Signs of drought stress are limp, hanging leaves, weak young branches, discolored or drying leaves. Now is the time to water the tree.
The water requirements of a Judas tree depend on several factors such as the length of the dry period and the condition of the tree. As a general rule, young trees require 15 to 20 liters and older trees 150 to 200 liters per watering. Judas trees have a deep root system and can therefore absorb and store larger amounts of water than shallow-rooted trees. When watering conventionally with a hose, a lot of water reaches the ground all at once and there is a risk that the moisture will evaporate or seep into the ground before it can reach the roots.
With tree bath water bags watering is more efficient and time and water are saved. Drip irrigation continuously releases water into the soil, allowing the shallow roots to absorb the water better. Attaching and filling the water bags is simple and straightforward. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and closed with a zip. In the next step, fill the bag with enough water so that after further alignment no wrinkles are visible in the lower area and then let it fill up. By filling an irrigation bag, Judas trees are provided with sufficient water.

Fertilizing Judas tree

Judas trees usually do not require any special fertilization, however, an annual fertilization with an organic fertilizer such as compost or horn shavings can help promote growth and improve flowering. This should be applied to the root area in spring and lightly worked in. Over-fertilizing can result in lush growth and fewer flowers. Judas trees are generally resistant to plant diseases and pests, but they may be affected by fungal diseases such as mildew or leaf spot. The plant should be monitored regularly and treated quickly if an infestation occurs.

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