Resembling snow peas on a tree, Univ of Pittsburgh lawn, 4 June 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

9 June 2026

Last week these seed pods in my neighborhood looked like snow peas clinging to the redbud trees. Apparently it’s an exceptionally good year for redbud (Cercis canadensis) seed production even though we had two freezes while the flowers were blooming in April.

Notice how similar the seed pods are to snow peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum).

Snow peas at a market (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Both are members of the Legume or Pea family, Fabaceae:

Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and agriculturally important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or annual herbaceous plants, which are easily recognized by their fruit (legume) and their compound, stipulate leaves. The family is widely distributed, and is the third-largest land plant family in number of species, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with about 765 genera and nearly 20,000 known species.

Native Americans and foragers eat redbud flowers raw or boiled, and roast the seeds.

Redbud blooming, 8 April 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

However, redbuds are bred for their beauty while snow peas are cultivated for sweetness and tenderness.

Sweet and tender? I’d much rather eat snow peas.