Cercis

( SER - siss )

At-A-Glance Information

Cercis, or Redbud, are small trees and shrubs which need full sun to light shade and moderate to regular water to perform well in the landscape. These trees will attract birds to the garden, and are valued for their springtime rose-purple blossoms that appear before leafout each year on both branches and trunks. Flowers fade and bean-like pods replace them, persisting into the winter months. All varieties provide great fall foliage color and are best in naturalized settings. Use Redbud trees as specimens, in small groupings, as a part of mixed beds or borders, or as patio trees.

Cercis Species and Varietals

The genus Cercis includes around 10 species and is a member of the plant family Fabaceae. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek word kerkis (meaning 'weaver's shuttle'), alluding to the shape of dried seed pods and their resemblance to a loom shuttle. and The best growing zones for Cercis vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud, Spicewood Tree, Judas Tree, American Judas Tree)
This species is native to the Eastern United States and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-24. It is the largest species (reaching 25-35 feet tall and just as wide) in the genus, and can take the form of a tree or multitrunked large shrub. Reddish-brown trunks are typically short and somewhat twisted with fissures, and leaves are green and have pointed tips. This species needs good winter chill for profuse blooms in springtime; this is one of the more cold-hardy species in the genus. Use this species as an understory or specimen tree.

'Ace of Hearts'
This variety reaches 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide, with violet flowers.

'Forest Pansy'
Graceful form with purple leaves. This variety needs some shade in warmer climates.

'Hearts of Gold'
Flowers are lavender, and appear before foliage fills out. New leaves are pink, and mature to lime and gold, finally shading to green.

'Lavender Twist' ('Covey')
Pink-purple flowers bloom on weeping branches. This selection is best with afternoon shade.

'Little Woody'
Vase-shaped tree that reaches 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide, with purple flowers and crinkled leaves.

'Merlot'
With glossy purple leaves.

'Ruby Falls'
Weeping purple foliage.

'Silver Cloud'
Leaves are marbled with white and cream.

Did You Know? The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is the state tree of Oklahoma.
These trees were chosen to represent Oklahoma because it seemed to welcome pioneers to the area. It was named the state tree all the way back in 1937, and to this day invokes a general message of love due to its heart-shaped leaves.

Cercis chinensis
This hardy species does well in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 or Sunset growing zones 4-24 and is native to China and Japan. It reaches 10-12 feet tall and 10 feet wide at maturity. Flowers are a deep rose color, and leaves have a transparent line around the edge. Varieties include 'Don Egolf' and 'Avondale' (with deep purple flowers).

Cercis occidentalis (Cercis orbiculata) (Western Redbud, California Redbud)
This species is primarily found in Northern California (with scattered populations in Utah and Arizona), and has thin, shiny, brown branches. Flowers are pink, blooming in March through May. These plants tend to grow as multitrunked small trees or shrubs, but can be trained into a classic single-trunked tree shape. Trees can reach up to 25 feet tall, especially in their native habitats. Western Redbuds are drought-tolerant and are great in wildlife gardens. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 2-24.

Cercis siliquastrum (Judas Tree, European Redbud, Love Tree, Mediterranean Redbud)
This species of Redbud is native to southern Europe and western Asia, and forms a small tree 35 feet tall and 32 feet wide at maturity. Pink or white flowers will form on year old or older growth, including the trunk, in springtime. These trees do well when grown in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10.

'Afghan Deep Purple'

'Alba'

'Bodnant'

'Carnea'

'Fructa Rubra'

'Penduliflora'

'Rubra'

'Sterilis'

'Variegata'

'White Swan'

Caring for cercis

The best spot for planting a Redbud tree in the landscape is a site that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day. These are naturally understory trees, so they can grow in the partial shade of larger trees, but will bloom and perform better in full sun. Ensure that soil is well-draining before installing; these trees can tolerate a variety of soil types, but do not like to be water-logged. These trees are sensitive to root rot infections, and making sure drainage is sufficient is the first step in avoiding this problem. They thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil (with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Newly planted trees should be watered regularly to help establish a strong root system; keep soil moist but not waterlogged for about 2-3 years. Once established, Redbud trees are fairly drought tolerant, able to survive on precipitation for most of the year, with deep waterings during the warmer, drier months of the year.

These trees don't need much in the way of fertilization. A simple application in early springtime of compost around the base of the tree is sufficient to provide the nutrients it needs for the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing these trees, as excessive nitrogen can lead to more foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Prune in late winter or springtime, before new growth pushes out for the year. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as well as crossing branches at this time to improve structure and overall health. Thinning the canopy can also improve air circulation and reduce the risk of disease. These trees naturally have a graceful, handsome shape, and will not need much direction as far as shaping is concerned. Redbud trees can survive for decades or centuries in the landscape, depending on the climate they are grown in and the care they receive.

Propagation

Cercis can be propagated either by using cuttings (a somewhat difficult process) or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if it is a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Redbud tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Cercis by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In late spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Cercis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest the seeds. Seed pods on Redbud trees are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. They are mature in mid to late summer, and will turn brown, dry, and somewhat hard when ready to release seeds. Carefully remove these pods from the tree, and place them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. Collecting more seed pods than necessary will help to counteract the fact that many species have a high percentage of non-viable seeds.
Cercis seeds have a hard coating that protects them, but this coating also makes it a little difficult to get them to germinate. We can help the process along by scarifying them with sandpaper (or simply rubbing them against an abrasive surface). Do this with as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want. Place your seeds in lukewarm water for six hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float. Alternatively, success has also been found when seeds are scarified for 10-20 minutes in concentrated sulfuric acid.
Cercis seeds will also need to be cold-stratified. To complete this process, place seeds in a plastic bag or other sealable container along with moistened sand. Place the container in a refrigerator or other similarly cool space (kept at around 31 degrees Fahrenheit) for between 30 and 60 days. Remove the seeds and set them out to dry after this period has passed.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes around 3 months from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.