Redbud Roundup
(Due to some issues this week with vertigo, I’ve reached back to one of my favorite stories – one from this week a year ago here in e-gardens. I hope you enjoy it.)
Redbuds of Note
Most of our native redbuds in Texas are selections of eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. Native types are pretty enough, but it’s impossible to predict their flower color unless you buy them while they’re in bloom. Floral shades of the natives include deep orchid-pink (almost reddish purple), pale pink and paler pink, even white. But the story is nowhere near ending there.
Photo: Being legumes, redbuds are favorites of bees while they are flowering.
Here are some of the finest redbuds, each fairly easy to find in Texas nurseries.
This is a good starting point – a comparison of native redbuds alongside a much darker, grafted selection called ‘Oklahoma.’ This shows the wide range of shades you’ll be able to find.
Photo: ‘Oklahoma’ redbud was selected for its burgundy flowers and, later in the season, its glossy foliage.
Photo: ‘Oklahoma’ redbuds grow best as understory trees, in the canopies of larger trees’ shade.
White redbuds do appear in nature, but home gardeners will have to buy plants that have been grafted.
Photo: White redbuds in background show nice contrast with deep pink trees closest to camera.
Forest Pansy redbuds have deep burgundy flowers that contrast nicely with the purple new growth.
Photo: ‘Forest Pansy’ redbuds were selected for their deep purple spring and early summer foliage and deep burgundy spring flowers.
‘Traveler’ redbuds are tightly weeping little trees. They, along with several other dwarf selections, are becoming fairly common in the nursery trade.
Photo: ‘Traveler’ redbud is a dwarf, weeping form. Shown here in the Sperry backyard landscape.
‘Avalon’ redbud has the darkest burgundy of any other type’s flowers. It also blooms up to one week earlier than the rest.
Photo: ‘Avalon’ is a selection of another redbud species.
The life expectancy of most redbuds is 35 to 50 years, but if your tree dies back to the ground, don’t give up just yet. I harvested the original burled trunk of this old tree from a neighbor for turning into pens. Over the past five years all of this regrowth has sprung back.
Photo: Regrowth from stump of an old tree that had died back to its roots.