Redbud Tree

The graceful redbud tree, or Cercis Canadensis, is a harbinger of spring with its racemes of pink-violet flowers. Native to the Mediterranean, it is now a familiar sight in the southern United States. It is also related to the pea, and its flowers resemble pea flowers.

Hardy Zones Where Redbud Tree Grows

It does best in warmer climates, so it is appropriate for hardiness zones 6 to 9, where the lowest winter temperature is never under -5 degrees Fahrenheit. 

It is a small deciduous type that grows from 15 to 25 feet tall. It has a round, 15 to 25-foot round made of zigzagging twigs. Some grow as tall as 50 feet, though in the wild, it’s often an understory that grows in the partial shade of taller ones. It has several trunks and many branches and is heart-shaped, with alternate leaves that are 3 to 5 inches long. The margins are entire, which means there are no indentations or leaflets. They are smooth on top and glaucous beneath and have palmate veins. At first, the leaves are an attractive bronzy red, then lush green in the summer, and finally, shades of yellow or light brown in the fall. These colors ensure that the leaf is showy for most of the year.

Soil Recommendations For The Redbud Tree

Redbud Trees grow best in fertile, alkaline soil, though they do well in sandy, clayey, or loamy soil. They prefer the soil's pH to be between 6.0 and 8.0 and need good drainage, though they can tolerate periods of dryness. They flourish in full or indirect sunlight and need medium watering. They can tolerate deer and pollution and can be planted near black walnuts. Black walnuts release a poison that often kills other plants near them.

Bloom Color Of the Redbud Tree

Their breathtaking beauty is because the flowers appear well before the foliage. They are a stunning pink-violet or rosy-purple and arrive in great masses over old growth. About 3/4 of an inch long, they grow straight from the stems, branches, and even the trunk. They have fused sepals and five petals and are edible.

This is one of the first to bloom in the south. The bloom season is usually from March to April, but they can bloom as early as February in warmer areas. The blossoms attract bees and other pollinators struggling to find nectar so early in the season. When the flowers fade, they are replaced by long 4-inch long seed pods. These pods, which are deep purple, are mature in the summer but can be seen on them into the winter. The pods resembled a weaver’s shuttle, or kerkis to the Greeks. This gave its genus name. When the pods split open, the seeds are eaten by birds The redbud tree is easy to take care of and needs a bit of pruning and fertilizer in the spring.