Eastern Redbud Tree Care and Growing Tips

Eastern Redbud Tree Benefits

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Blooming trees are one of the most beautiful sights of spring, and the eastern redbud tree really knows how to put on a good display!

“There are so many things to love about this tree,” raves Andrew Koeser, an associate professor of Urban Tree and Landscape Management at the University of Florida. “Redbuds have stunning purplish-pink flowers that make them stand out in the spring. Many trees and shrubs bloom, but trees like redbuds— which lose their leaves in winter and then put on their show before new foliage emerges—are particularly striking.”

Andrew continues, “Beyond their flowers, I love their often-gnarled shape and small stature which allows them to fit in most landscapes.” He also admires the heart-shaped leaves that appear after flowering, then turn yellow and orange during the fall before dropping off for winter.

Additionally, birds, butterflies and bees flock to your backyard when you grow an early-blooming eastern redbud.

How to Grow an Eastern Redbud Tree

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• Common name: Eastern redbud, American redbud
• Scientific name: Cercis canadensis
• Hardiness zones: 4 to 9a
• Light needs: Full sun to part shade
• Water needs: Moist soil, somewhat drought-tolerant once established
• Size: 20 to 30 feet high, 25- to 35-foot spread
• Flowers: Small clusters of edible reddish-pink or white fragrant blooms appear in early spring directly on old wood trunks and branches
• Foliage: Heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall
• Wildlife value: Flowers attract butterflies and bees, seed pods attract birds

Editor’s note: A western version called Greene California redbud or western redbud (Cercis orbiculata) is similarly attractive.

Where and When to Plant Eastern Redbud Trees

Courtesy Cynthia Lockwood

This small ornamental tree is native to the eastern half of the United States, from the Great Lakes region to North Florida. It is the state tree of Oklahoma. Andrew notes that they like rich moist soil, though they can tolerate some drought once established. In the northern part of their range, redbuds can thrive in full sun, but they’ll do best with some afternoon shade in regions further south. Andrew recommends finding a site where a larger tree like an oak can protect the redbud from the sun as it grows in the understory.

Choose a spot for your redbud where it will receive some protection from strong winds, as the branches have a tendency to break under stress. Also note that redbuds can be very sensitive to herbicides and lawn chemicals, so be cautious when using these around your tree. New trees are best planted in spring or fall.

Eastern redbud trees grow wider than they are tall, so they need plenty of room to spread.

Andrew does offer one other caution: “They do produce seed pods, if messes are a concern.” Redbuds are closely related to beans, which explains the hundreds of long flat seed pods they grow and drop in late summer. These can be very abundant, so keep this in mind when choosing a location.

Eastern Redbud Pruning and Maintenance

Courtesy Eleanor Russell

Redbud trees grow fairly quickly, usually a foot or two per year depending on their growing conditions. They’re relatively short-lived for a tree, about 30 to 75 years on average. As your tree is becoming established, provide regular watering, and be careful not to disturb the root system.

Redbud’s long, leggy branches are more prone to breakage, so prune annually after flowering but before foliage appears. Strong junctures are indicated by a U-shape where branches meet; narrow V-shaped junctures can indicate weakness and should be pruned. If you like, you can also prune redbud’s shrub-like growth to form a single-trunked tree instead.

Diseases, Pests, and Problems

“The most common affliction for redbuds are cankers on the branches and stems,” Andrew says. “That said, in my experience these are largely cosmetic issues. In some areas, most large specimens have some sort of canker on them—it’s almost the expected look.”

If canker seems to be affecting your tree’s growth or health, cut off affected branches. Also look for fungal problems like mildew, verticillium wilt, and leaf spots. These are more likely to occur when airflow is limited, so consider pruning your tree so it has a more open structure to provide better ventilation.

Redbud may also be susceptible to insect infestations like webworm or Japanese beetle. Treat these problems as they appear, using targeted insecticidal oils or other recommended methods.

Top Eastern Redbud Cultivars

When it comes to choosing a redbud for your own yard, Andrew advises, “Look for local native nurseries that are growing redbud from locally-sourced seed.” You can also start redbud from seeds collected from local specimens (or dig up small volunteer seedlings). If you’re purchasing a tree, here are some cultivars to consider:

• ‘Merlot’: With deep purple flowers, this tree is a cross between eastern redbud and Texas redbud (C. canadensis var. texensis), which Andrew says may make it more suited to hot conditions in the south.

• ‘Arnold Banner’: This new cultivar from the arboretum at Harvard boasts pure white flowers. It grows best in zones 6a to 8b.

• ‘Northern Herald’: Growers in the far northern range will welcome this cultivar’s cold hardiness, making it perfect for those in zone 4 and even zone 3 under some conditions.

About the Expert

Andrew Koeser is an associate professor of Urban Tree and Landscape Management at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. He researches ways to increase urban tree diversity, as well as, how to select trees for more storm-resilient landscapes.

Sources

• Mississippi State University Extension – Eastern Redbud
• North Carolina State Extension – Cercis canadensis
• University of Florida IFAS – Eastern Redbud
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Pruning a Young Cercis canadensis (Redbud) Tree
• Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University – Arnold Arboretum Introduces a Novel Redbud
• Missouri Botanical Garden – Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Trim’ NORTHERN HERALD
• Monrovia – Merlot Redbud