Generalities:

The Judas tree or siliquastro, common name for cercis siliquastrum, belonging to the Leguminosae family, is a tree of a certain charm native to southern Europe and Asia Minor. Its name is easily connected to the ancient belief according to which, from one of its branches, Judas Iscariot hanged himself, putting an end to his existence following the famous betrayal to Jesus Christ. Even today the plant has not lost the use of being widely known by this name. The Judas tree, whose botanical name is Cercis siliquastrum, is a medium-sized tree belonging to the Leguminosae family. It has been known since ancient times and has spread spontaneously from western Asia to south-eastern Europe, in mostly arid and rocky places. It is considered an extremely ornamental essence, both for the beautiful and abundant spring flowering and for the trunk and branches, which appear gnarled and twisted. For the French denomination, the tree is instead called the Judean tree: “arbre de Judée It looks like a medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching a height close to 10 meters. One of the characteristics of its beauty is the dense branching that celebrates a triumph of flowers with a fascinating very lively pink hue. Usually its cultivation takes place in isolation or along the avenues, where the gracefulness of its foliage, the development of an expanded crown and the remarkable flowering that with its bright color contrasts in a very suggestive way with the darker bark is greatly appreciated. , giving the tree a considerable ornamental value. It has a development for which the branches provided with black bark point downwards and are covered by round and reniform leaves. Judas trees are particularly suitable for the composition of mixed borders, highlighting their beauty especially if they develop in a bulbous undergrowth with late flowering in the spring season. It is good to remember that siliquastro, native to Mediterranean places, grows much more easily in environments with a mild climate, while it has serious difficulties in developing in environments with a harsh climate.

cultivation and care:

As often happens with flowering trees, which are best exploited if the color of their flowering manages to remain lively, the Judas tree also needs cultivation in full sun. It is however advisable to provide adequate protection to the plant in the presence of a prolonged cold climate. Furthermore, siliquaster is very sensitive to gusts of wind, while it has a good tolerance for atmospheric pollution, therefore it is suitable for cultivation even in urban centers.