The Eastern Redbud is one of the earliest trees to flower in the spring and blooms well before their leaves come out. They are an understory tree that does decently in forest interiors but thrives when on the edge of a forest. These two facts combine to mean that during the early spring, many highways in the eastern US can see their pink and purple flowers standing out clearly against a backdrop of trees still dormant for the winter.
Crayshack 