It's called an eastern redbud, and its flowering is one of the loveliest markers of spring. An understory tree that never gets too big, cercis canadensis is a native to eastern North America, and as its Latin name indicates, has a range that includes southern Canada. I love everything about this tree, which grows in my own garden, except its common name. Its blooms are not red! The tiny pea-like flowers emerge before the leaves, and they cluster along the dark trunk and branches, outlining the tree in a delicate shade of pinkish-purple. When the heart-shaped leaves emerge, they are an unusual yellow-green that complements the fading blossoms. I suppose "magenta bud" doesn't trip so lightly off the tongue, but certainly pinkbud would be closer to the truth? I'll just have to continue arguing for more accuracy in the color description of plants!