This small tree is growing north of the parking spaces at the end of the Peabody Library service drive.

The tiny purple-pink flowers of redbud make it one of the most easily recognized small trees when it is blooming in the spring.  In addition to emerging from the twigs, redbud flowers also come directly from some places in the trunk of tree.  Although the flowers are very small, they have the structure typical of the pea family, and in the fall and late summer, redbud trees are covered with flat seed pods.  Redbud leaves are also fairly distinctive.  They are heart shaped with smooth margins.

Redbuds are very common in this area.  Because they generally don't live as long as other trees, they are usually small trees or shrubs.  They favor disturbed areas and so are very common along highways where they can produce clouds of brilliant purple-pink in the spring.  They are also planted as ornamentals.