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Gardening

Redbud tree is nice, colorful addition to landscape

By JANE WEBER
Published February 12, 2007

One of the first harbingers of spring is the redbud tree, Cercis canadensis, which usually blooms in February in Central Florida. As a small shade or feature tree, redbud is especially pretty when planted in a natural setting along with dogwood, Walter's viburnum, camellias and azaleas for a lovely color contrast.

Redbud is a fairly short, 20-foot, cold-hardy, deciduous tree native to the eastern half of the continent from southern Ontario south to Central Florida and west to northern Texas in zones 4 to 9. It likes either acid or slightly alkaline soil that is well-drained, although it can tolerate some seasonal flooding.

Fast to moderately quick growing, redbud responds well to a little fertilizer after flowering. It may live as long as 50 years in the wild, either in full sun or part shade.

The buds are a deep magenta red on the leafless, naked tree. Pealike flowers occur on the old wood, often on the trunk and directly out of the bark on larger branches. Thousands of tiny pink flowers erupt along the twigs to cloak the tree in a veil of delicate blossoms.

Be aware that redbud trees take several years to start to bloom.

A 3- to 4-foot sapling in a 10-inch-wide pot will cost about $10 retail. There are some 26 wholesalers that grow redbuds in Florida to supply the retail trade.

Planted alongside red maple, which blooms in January, the pink redbud flowers blend nicely with the maple keys that fade from burgundy to pink confetti to feed the birds. The third flowering tree of spring is white flowering dogwood, which usually blooms in March shortly after the redbud fades. So far, no pink flowering dogwoods have been bred to withstand Florida's hot wet summer climate.

All three deciduous trees are ideal to shade the porch or air conditioner in summer, but let the winter sun warm the house passively. These trees need no supplemental irrigation once established and are drought-tolerant and pest-resistant natives.

Redbud leaves are alternate, simple, distinctively heart-shaped and a dull green color. They are 3 to 6 inches from base of the blade to the pointed tip, with smooth edges and prominent veins. Although some cultivars have been bred with differing leaf and flower color, none have been successfully tested locally.

According to Marc Minno's Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants, redbud leaves are a host plant for Henry's Elfin caterpillars. Don't spray to kill these larvae or you will have no adults to grace your garden or lay eggs on the host plant. Birds that feed caterpillars to their nestlings will also be affected by the pesticides. When the tree loses a few leaves, it will quickly put out new ones to replace them.

Round, black seeds are borne in long, flattened cases that fade from green to dark brown when ripe in the fall. Birds relish the seeds so sprouting seedlings are not usually a problem for gardeners.

For adding height to a shrub border and color to your spring garden, redbud is an excellent choice.

Editor's note: This weekly article is provided by Jane Weber, professional gardener, grower, consultant, designer and environmentalist. Visit her Certified Florida Yard and Backyard Wildlife Habitat, 5019 W Stargazer Lane, Dunnellon. Call (352) 465-0649.

[Last modified February 12, 2007, 07:06:26]