Soil: Tolerates acidic or alkaline soils as well as heavy clays.The horizontal branching pattern adds architectural interest to the garden and makes an attractive canopy for spring bulbs. Because of their modest size, redbuds work well as understory trees and are particularly stunning when planted in groupings. This tree is not picky when it comes to soil preference, but it does best when grown in a moist, well-drained location. The eastern redbud ( Cercis canadensis) grows throughout most of the eastern U.S, extending as far west as Oklahoma and Texas and north into Canada. The redbud adapts to a wide range of site conditions and thrives in most types of soil and levels of sun exposure.The flowers also give rise to clusters of beanlike pods that remain on the tree into winter. Heart-shaped leaves 2 to 6 inches in length emerge a reddish color, turning dark green in summer and then a bright canary yellow in autumn.The trunk of the redbud commonly divides close to the ground, creating an interesting multi-trunk shape with graceful arched branches and a rounded crown.The buds appear to emerge right from the bark of twigs and branches and even on parts of the trunk, adorning the entire tree with miniature clusters of flowers.Clusters of tiny magenta buds swell into showy rosy pink flowers in early spring before the leaves appear, with the long-lasting blossoms putting on a show for two to three weeks. These attributes, along with the redbud’s compact size and resilient nature, have made it one of the most popular small trees for residential gardens. Photo by: Saxon Holt.Īs I returned to observe these trees throughout the year, I discovered that their beauty extends well beyond the spring season, as the fading flowers give way to heart-shaped green to bronze leaves in summer and brown pods that remain on the tree after the leaves fall. The horizontal branching pattern of the redbud adds architectural interest and makes an attractive canopy for spring bulbs.
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