The showy, magenta-pink bloom of the redbud tree is a familiar sign of spring's arrival. A smaller tree, often found in the understory and edges of forests, Cercis canadensis reaches heights from 15 to 30 feet. The Eastern redbud can often be identified by its bright-green, cordate (heart-shaped) leaves. Native Americans often ate the flowers of the Eastern redbud and enjoyed tea made from its bark.