Foraging Redbud Blooms In Spring

Did you know that the beautiful blooms of the Native Eastern Redbud Tree are edible? They are not only beautiful, but they can be added to salads, made into syrups or just munched on straight from the tree as a fun a delicious snack.

Reader Contribution by Kristy Severin
article image
by Unsplash/Carl Schlabach

The Eastern Redbud tree is a beautiful flowering tree that is native to Eastern North America.  In the Spring, the flowers turn a bright reddish-purple that you can easily spot in neighborhoods, along roadways, and among other trees.  You may choose to plant a native Eastern Redbud as a part of your landscape for a beautiful addition to your yard and a fun plant to forage its blooms in the Spring.  From Redbud Jelly to Redbud Syrup and cakes, you can begin your forage by picking the buds and placing them into a glass jar.  Once you’ve gathered your buds, be sure to rinse them with cold water and place them on a towel to dry. You can then store them in your refrigerator for up to 3 days, covered.

You may then sprinkle your red buds on salads, garnish a pasta dish, add to tacos as a topping, decorate a cake or incorporate them into your favorite recipe.  The buds are a bit sweet and slightly crunchy with a similar flavor to a pea.  Share your recipes and pictures in the comments or by email, we would love to see how you use the beautiful redbuds as part of your dishes.

Happy Foraging!

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