Favorite Plant Friday – Redbud

Driving around neighborhoods on these early spring days you may see a small garden tree full of purplish-pink flower on bare branches. This is the Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis. It is hardy in zones 5-9 and grows slowly to a mature height of 25′ or so, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens. It requires full sun or part shade conditions and very little maintenance. An added bonus to planting this tree is that it attracts Hummingbirds, giving them the food they need early on in the season.

Cercis canadensis -Eastern Redbud in full bloom

Cercis canadensis -Eastern Redbud in full bloom

Cercis canadensis leaf

Cercis canadensis leaf

After the tiny pea-shaped flowers diminish it produces these almost heart shaped leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another lovely cultivar is the Cercis candensis ‘Forest Pansy’ which boast the same flowers in early spring but, purple leaves.Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy OSU pohoto

 

 

 

 

Cercis Forest Pansy Leaf onlineplantguide