[2] The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and he gave it the specific epithet of siliquastrum which is derived from the Latin word siliqua, meaning "pod".

[3] The generic name comes from the Greek kerkis, a "shuttle", which refers to the resemblance shown to this weaver's tool by the flat, woody seedpods.

British journalist Francis McCullagh reported seeing "innumerable" flowering specimens of this tree in Yildiz Park in Istanbul in April 1909.

[9] The tree is susceptible to leafhoppers, scale insects and psyllids (specifically Cacopsylla pulchella) as well as diseases including canker, coral spot and verticillium wilt.

[2] There is a myth that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from a tree of this species, causing its white flowers to turn red.

The flaming beauty of the flowers attracts innumerable insects; and the wandering bee is drawn after it to gather honey.

"Erguvan (redbud) festivals" started to be organized since the 14th century because Emir Sultan, one of the Muslim Anatolian saints, son-in-law of the Ottoman Empire sultan Bayezid I, met with his followers in Bursa every year during the Judas tree blooming season, continued as a tradition until the 19th century due to their positive effects on the city's economy.

The belief that Judas hanged himself on Cercis siliquastrum tree, leading its flowers to turn to a blush colour, likely originated from a translation error.