Although in its native habitat Chinese redbud will often grow as a tree to 50' tall, in cultivation in the U.S. it usually grows much smaller as an open, multi-stemmed shrub from 8-15' tall. It is similar to our native redbud (Cercis canadensis), except Chinese redbud has larger rose-purple flowers, glossier leaves with more deeply cordate leaf bases, longer seed pods and variable but usually less attractive fall color.