Redbud
By Trey Pitsenberger, co-owner Golden Gecko

Have you seen the Redbuds in bloom? Driving where the native foliage has been undisturbed look for a shrub that is leafless, with colorful sweet pea shaped, magenta flowers growing on the branches and even the trunk. These are the Redbud (Cercis occidentalis). They are native to the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada below 4000’.

During the summer they are inconspicuous among the other native plants. They usually grow about 8 to 18 feet tall. Most grow several trunks from the base. Leaves are bluish green about 3” on diameter. In the fall the leaves turn a light yellow or red.

They are useful in low water use landscapes. Use them on a dry bank or hill for interest. Try planting trailing manzanita (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), or ‘Canadian Creeper’ (Cotoneaster) underneath, to help with erosion, or add a carpet of green. The shrub Ceanothus, or mountain lilac is great with redbud as it blooms at the same time as redbud. Ceanothus has bright blue flowers that look great with the magenta flowers of redbud.

Don’t try to transplant them from the wild. Like so many native shrubs they dislike being moved from their original home. They are not always easy to find in the garden centers either. Redbuds Help Bridge the gap between the early flowering trees, like ornamental plums, and the later blooming flowering cherries and crabapples.

There is another type of Redbud that is sold more frequently. The Eastern Red Bud (Cercis canadensis) is native to the eastern U.S. It is the largest and fastest growing Red Bud.  They can grow 25-35 feet tall. They are usually a tree shaped plant with a single trunk, unlike the natives many trunked form. It has horizontally tiered branches that form a round head. The flowers are rose colored rather than magenta. The leaves are larger growing from 3 to 6 inches.

The Eastern Red Bud is one of my favorite small patio trees. They have an easy care habit, and a pleasing appearance. They’re a various varieties of the Eastern Redbud that have been developed. ‘Forest Pansy’ is a variety of Eastern Redbird that deserves special mention. While it has flowers just like the Species, ‘Forest Pansy’ has beautiful purple leaves. ‘Oklahoma’ is probably the most widely sold variety. It comes with flowers that are wine red.  ‘Texas White’ has white flowers instead of red or magenta. It is a great patio tree, or anywhere a twenty- foot tall tree would be nice. “Avondale’ is a dwarf variety that grows to about ten feet tall and eight feet wide. Flower color is deep magenta.

Redbud is a shrub or tree that can be enjoyed by all, as it has very good deer resistance. Average to less than average water will suffice once the plant is established.  The Western Red Bud is drought resistant once established. The Eastern Redbud prefers regular water, but will tolerate less than average water.  The Eastern Redbud takes average garden conditions better than the native redbud.