Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)

The Judas tree is a small tree. Its wood is used for veneer. The crimson flowers that appear before the leaves are edible and are used in the Mediterranean in salads to give a slightly tart flavour. For bees it is an important rich source of nectar early in the year, and it is arguably the most beautiful tree in our collection.

Some scholars believe that it was a fig tree from which Judas hanged himself, especially as the fig tree was often mentioned as a suicide tree in Greek mythology.

Biblical

The Judas Tree as such is not mentioned in the Bible. According to a medieval legend, it was the tree from which Judas hanged himself. The red-purple flowers which appear before the leaves are said to be the drops of Judas’s blood. Another legend says the tree became ashamed and blushed. The leaves are round and resemble the coins of the blood money Judas received from the high priests.

Another story about this tree comes from the Middle Ages: The Crusaders brought this tree back to Europe from the Holy Land – it was the “Tree from Judea”, the “Judean Tree” and thus became the “Judas Tree”.

“Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’. They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself” (Mathew 27;3 – 5).