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Botanical name: Cercis canadensis ‘Oklahoma’
A wonderful small accent tree with beautiful magenta-wine colored flowers in early spring, followed by thick, glossy dark-green leaves; adaptable to drier soils; older dark brown bark exfoliates to reveal orangish inner bark; a more compact redbud.
Other names: Texas Redbud, Cercis canadensis var. texensis
| Hardiness zone | 6a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | hot pink |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | round |
| Mature height | 15 feet |
| Spread | 15 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | North American native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Oklahoma Redbud has hot pink pea-like flowers with dark red overtones along the branches from early to mid spring before the leaves. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The small glossy heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. The peeling dark brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Oklahoma Redbud is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Disease
Oklahoma Redbud is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use
Oklahoma Redbud will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.
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