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Botanical name: Cercis canadensis
A spectacular spring bloomer, with very showy pink to purple flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring; somewhat coarse heart-shaped leaves; rivals any small ornamental tree for specimen use in the home landscape.
Other names: Redbud, Judas Tree, Love Tree
| Hardiness zone | 4b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | rose |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | round |
| Mature height | 30 feet |
| Spread | 30 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | Texas Native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Eastern Redbud has rose pea-like flowers along the branches from early to mid spring, which emerge from distinctive fuchsia flower buds before the leaves. It has forest green foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The heart-shaped leaves turn buttery yellow in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Eastern 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
Eastern Redbud is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use
Eastern Redbud will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath 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 prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. 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 species is native to parts of our region.
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