JUDAS TREE 69 



bluish-green tint above and pea-green beneath, and 

 distinctly heart or kidney shaped. They assume rich 

 scarlet tints in autumn. The purplish-pink flowers 

 appear before the leaves ; they are clustered in small 

 bunches on the twigs and branches and even spring 

 from the trunk itself, sometimes downwards to near 

 ground-level. So thickly are the flowers produced 

 that in many instances the branches seem wreathed 

 with the conspicuous pinky buds at the end of March 

 and continue attractive until the tree is in full leafage 

 in May. 



Patches of flowers 3 or 4 inches across often 

 appear on the old bare branches and stem, and give 

 the impression of having been nailed in position. 



The Judas Tree was cultivated in this country as 

 early as 1596, at which date a good illustration of 

 it is given by Gerard, who, with reference to the 

 popular name, remarks : * It may be called Judas Tree, 

 for it is thought to be that on which Judas hanged 

 himself and not on the elder as it is vulgarly said/ 

 There is a white-flowered form and one named cornea^ 

 with beautiful deep-pink flowers. For ornamental 

 effect in spring the Judas Tree ranks as one of the most 

 attractive kinds, owing to the beautiful and unique 

 appearance that it presents when both old and young 

 wood of branch and stem is thickly studded with the 

 purplish-pink flowers before the leaves appear. The 

 Judas Tree likes a rich soil, and, judging from old 

 trees at Holwood, one of Lord Derby's Kentish 

 estates, it thrives well beneath the shade and drip 

 of other trees. 



