Redbuds: Sweethearts of the Woodland

To add maximum impact in partial shade, choose a cultivar with extraordinary foliage, flowers, or habit

little , native , efflorescence Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree always seem to be in high demand , with dogwood ( Cornusspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–9 ) traditionally getting the lion ’s contribution of tending . But in recent years , redbuds ( Cercisspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) have been get a well - merit renaissance as appreciation has grown for their efflorescence , leafage , and form , which provide multiple season of interest . There are about a dozen species , aboriginal to regions throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere , though most cultivated redbud belong to to the Eastern U.S. metal money ( Cercis canadensis , Zones 4–8 ) .

The foliage of Cercis canadensis is a lovely heart Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and provides a quite unlike texture than that of most other garden plants . Redbuds are naturally understory Tree and are glad when grown out of the hopeful afternoon sun and with adequate moisture . They are quite adaptable , even in exposed conditions , and are hardy to Zone 6 in universal , with some selections hardy down to Zone 4 or 5 .

Redbuds at a Glance

Name : Cercisspp . and cvs .

Zones:4–9

Conditions : Full sun to partial wraith ; average to moist , fertile , well - drained soil

aboriginal ranges : Asia , Eastern and Western North America , and the Mediterranean

Interesting conformation and showy foliation bring up Cercis canadensis to new heights , but the floral display is why most of us grow these lovely small trees . As member of the bean ( Fabaceae ) kinfolk , all redbuds bear peak that attract pollinator , followed by mat bean fuel pod that can be greenish or royal when youthful before turning brown as they maturate . The flowers , which are eatable and occasionally used fresh in salads , are produced along the stem and branch and even along old trunks like patch of bright lichen , a trait known as cauliflory ( fromcaul , imply “ bow , ” andflory , meaning “ flowering ” ) .

A hotter shade of pink

‘Appalachian Red’ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘Appalachian Red’)

Size:15 to 25 feet tall and wide

Despite their name , most redbud have lavender - pink blossom of somewhat varying intensity , but ‘ Appalachian Red ’ is a distinctly different color . Although still not red , the flowers are very brilliant — late pink with no lavender to them at all . As a specimen grow and matures , the floral display becomes increasingly intense . A full - grown ‘ Appalachian Red ’ stands out like a beacon in a woodland garden .

A fast grower with double flowers

‘Pink Pom Poms’ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘Pink Pom Poms’)

Zones : 5–9

Size:15 to 20 foot tall and wide

Before its special - large , heart - shaped foliage come forth , this double - bloom selection is adorned with dull bunch of rosiness resemble small damask roses . As a bonus , these flowers are female sterile , so no bean pods will form . This plant is one of the most vigorous Cercis canadensis I ’ve grow and acquire into a nice - sized humble Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree promptly .

A nonnative worth mentioning: Compact and seed-free

‘Don Egolf’ Chinese redbud (C. chinensis‘Don Egolf’)

Zones:6–9

Size:10 to 12 feet magniloquent and wide

While I discover the seedpods on our aboriginal Eastern redbud quite attractive as they swing from the branches , others consider them a nuisance . On the shrubby Formosan metal money , there is mostly widespread agreement that the seedcase simply make the plant life look messy in fall . ‘ Don Egolf ’ , an introduction from the U.S. National Arboretum diagnose for the fabled bush breeder , is a unimaginative material body annihilate the possibility of ejaculate . In addition to sterileness , it flower prolifically on a compact works that only strain about 10 feet tall at maturity date .

Trees must carry their free weight in the garden all year round , or at least fade into the background when not showing off . Redbuds in wintertime are somewhat nondescript , but they make up for it with flower and sheer foliage in spring and summer . Recent breeding has led to some amazing form that summate interest throughout the year , let in numerous crier , which are becoming more widely uncommitted .

Graceful branches and snowy blooms

‘Vanilla Twist’ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘Vanilla Twist’)

Size:12 feet marvelous and 8 feet wide

Not all redbud ’ flowers are lavender - pink . This weeping selection makes an graceful specimen in fountain when it is cover in white flowers , and in winter when the architecture of the weeping branches is to the full displayed . Like its cousin ‘ Covey ’ , sold as Lavender Twist , ‘ Vanilla Twist ’ has branches that can sunscald if grown in vivid good afternoon sunshine in the South .

An upswept, vertical habit

Name: Summer’s Tower™ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘JN7’)

Zones:5–9

Size:20 to 25 foot grandiloquent and 10 to 12 feet wide

While most redbud have an oval or wide spreading drug abuse , Summer ’s Tower grows upright in a tight vase shape , making it everlasting for planting beside a drive or pavement where lowly branches could get in the style . This natural selection is quite vigorous and will speedily make an exclamation point in time in the landscape .

Tolerates more sun and drier soil

‘Traveller’ weeping Texas redbud (C. canadensisvar.texensis‘Traveller’)

Size:6 to 8 substructure marvelous and 12 to 14 feet wide-eyed

‘ Traveller ’ was introduce in the early 1990s and has become one of the criterion against which other weeping redbuds are compared . The broad cascading manakin of ‘ Traveller ’ look owing in all seasons . The Texas contour of redbud bears boneheaded , glossy leave , making it more kind of sun and drought than its easterly relative . Another selection of Texas Cercis canadensis called ‘ Oklahoma ’ is still among the finest of all just redbuds , with lovely foliage and acute flower color .

Today ’s small garden demand plants that supply multiple season of shock and give the most bang for the clam . Redbuds are entering an exciting new phase of reproduction , with unbelievable foliar displays that extend the show long after the blossom have faded .

A weeping form draped in burgundy

‘Ruby Falls’ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘Ruby Falls’)

Size:6 to 8 feet tall and wide

This initiation from the JC Raulston Arboretum combines thick burgundy foliage with a weeping habit . The foliage is darkest betimes in the time of year before the leave are fully developed . Its cascading kind make it suitable as a focal specimen and pure for training over an arch or wall . For an even brilliant show , look for its sister works , ‘ Golden Falls ’ , which has gold parting that are touch with orange when they emerge .

New leaves keep the warm color coming

The Rising Sun™ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘JN2’)

Zones:4–8

Size:8 to 12 feet grandiloquent and wide

One of the most striking belittled trees useable is this gold - leaf form of Cercis canadensis . I still commend my first experience with it in Ray Jackson ’s Tennessee field short before he introduced it , and it was passion at first visual sense . The new growth come forth with a lovesome apricot - orange glow before becoming bright lily-livered . Successive charge of growth throughout the summertime keep the multicolored show going through most of the season .

Spectacular variegation

‘Alley Cat’ Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘Alley Cat’)

Zones:5–8

Size:20 to 25 feet tall and wide

There are several different lily-white variegate selections of easterly redbud , starting with one I first run into almost three tenner ago call up ‘ aimless Clouds ’ . Since then , good forms have come to market , include ‘ Alley Cat ’ . The foliage emerges in other spring with creamy bloodless splashing , but as summer progresses the diversification intensifies . As with many white variegated plants , this one is happy with some summer shade in the South .

‘Appalachian Red’ Eastern redbud(C. canadensis,Zones 4–9).Photo: JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

Dramatic, season-long color

Flame Thrower®Eastern redbud (C. canadensis‘NC2016-2’)

Size:15 to 20 feet marvelous and 15 feet wide-cut

The newest kid on the pulley is another introduction from JC Raulston Arboretum that breaks unexampled earth in redbud reproduction . Combining some of the best characteristic of other innovation , this small tree has foliage that emerge rich , burgundy red . As they age , the leaves become coral , then gold , chartreuse , and ultimately unaccented green . The kaleidoscope showing continues from fountain all the way through summer .

Mark Weathington is the director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh .

Photo: JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

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Photo: JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

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Photo: JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

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