Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a North American native tree that is native to the Eastern region of the United states.
Habit
It is a small, deciduous, understory tree growing 20-30′ on average. They often grow in a multi-trunked fashion unless it is trained to have a single trunk. The canopy will form a rounded shape and will spread wider than it gets tall.
Leaves
The leaves are a heart shape that grow 3-5″ wide and turn yellow in the fall.
Flowers & Seeds
The flowers are a pink color, looking similar to a pea flower, and blooming in early spring. The tree will form a cluster of seed pods that resembles a bean pod. The seed pods turn brown in later summer and often hang into the tree in the winter.
Taxonomy
Redbud is a member of the Fabaceae family, which is the ‘pea’ or ‘legume’ family.
Habitat
Redbud is naturally found on the margin of forest settings and in open fields. They are adaptable to different settings and are also a great urban tree. They can tolerate a range of soil conditions concerning pH and soil moisture. They prefer limestone soils with alkaline pH and moist well draining sties. They will grow bushier when they are a lone specimen. When they are planted under or around shade trees, their canopy may remain more sparse and less spreading.
Notable Features
Redbuds are tolerant of juglone, which is a chemical found in Black Walnut which will stunt surrounding plants. The tree is also not particularly attrative to deer.
Native Range
BONAP Plant Atlas: Cercis. Light gree shows its most common range, and dark green its less common range.
Cultivars
There are several cultivars on the market of this native tree. The straight species is a great tree on its own.
‘Forest Pansy’: This cultivar has red to purple colored leaves. It is similar to the native species in its growth size and habit.
‘Hearts of Gold’: This a yellow leaf cultivar. The leaves will turn more green as the season turns to summer. It is also of similar size, or slightly smaller, and habit of the straight species of redbud.
‘Rising Sun’: This cultivar is similar to ‘Hearts of Gold’ but the new growth is an orange color that will turn into the yellow as the growth matures.
“Royal White’: A redbud with white flowers instead of pink.
‘Appalachian Red’: This cultivar has more vibrant and deeper colored pink flowers.
‘Flame Thrower’: A cultivar with bright green, red, and orange leaves. A bit smaller reaching 15-20′ tall and 15′ wide.
‘Carolina Sweetheart’: A cultivar with varigated foliage of white, green and pink.
‘Ace of Hearts’: A smaller redbuds reaching 10-12′ tall and wide.
‘Oklahoma’: A variation of redbud Cercis canadensis var. texensis. This variation is supposed to be more tolerant of hot and drier climats or in direct sun. Only hardy to zone 6. (Here in Kentucky, this variety did not make it in a severe cold weather incident)
Weeping Cultivars
‘Lavender Twist’: This weeping redbud has green leaves with pink flowers.
‘Ruby Falls’: A purple leafed weeping cultivar
‘Vanilla Twist’: A white flowered weeping redbud
‘Golden Falls’: A bright yellow gold leafed weeping redbud.
Hybrid Cultivars
Some redbuds are crossed with other species of redbuds. There are redbud species native to the Western United States (Cercis occidentalis), and there is also a Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis). I belive some of these hybrids are less hardy to the Eastern US, depending on your USDA planting zone.
‘Merlot’: A smaller sized redbud with dark red to purple leaves reaching 9-12′ tall and 10-15′ wide. It is a hybrid between a ‘Forest Pansy’ and ‘Texas White’.
Pollinators
Redbud is a great small native tree that will fit most properties. It is an excellent pollinator attractor and provides food to bees at a time in early spring when food is more scarce. It is one of the most important native flowering trees in the Eastern US.
Redbud is a host plant for 24 species of Lepidoptera
- White Flannel Moth
- Henry’s Elfin Butterfly
- Io Moth
- White Marked Tussock Moth
Gardening with Redbud
The straight species of redbud can reseed itself around the landscape. Often if a neighbor has a redbud, you will end up with seedlings in your own garden. I generally may find a few of them in a garden that hasn’t been taken care of. I would not say they reseed agreesively. Maple or elm often reseed heavily, and it’s not to that degree. Volunteer tree seedlings should be pulled at a very young age, or they will be difficult to pull even when they reach a few inches in height. For this reason, they are difficult trees to dig up and transplant. We have often tried transplanting young trees for homeowners with oten failed results no matter how well we attempt the task. Small redbuds will thrive when they begin growing a small seedling and left to be. When transplanted however, or grown from a whip (they are a popular tree to give away at tree events), they can sometimes not make it. Container nursery trees should successfully grow as long as they are properly cared for.
Cultivars of redbud may or may not reseed themselves, but generally I have found that they do not, or not as much as the straight species. When growing redbuds from whips, or volunteers, pruning is recommended to guide them into a nicely shaped tree.
Redbuds are prone to broken branches during wind, ice, or snow storms. It is important to try and directionally prune the redbud at an early age to prevent limbs that would be prone to being damaged.
Redbud is also prone to cold winter damage. Dead branches should be properly pruned out of the tree in the spring.
Lifespan, Diseases
Redbuds can generally live to be 30-40 years old and up to 70 years. Winter damage is often a cause of decline or bad health of the tree.
Redbud can be prone to leaf spots caused by a fungus. It’s generally not life threatening.
Canker and dieback is also caused by a fungus (Botryosphaeria) and will cause branches to die.
There are some insects that may target redbud including borers, scales, leaf rollers, and leaf hoppers.
Other disease include anthracnose and verticillium wilt.
Edible Use
The flowers container Vitamin C and can be used in baked goods or made a simple syrup for lemonade or tea.