
What are the best trees for fall color?
Trees can bring your small garden flowers in spring and summer, radiant leaf color in the fall, plus interesting bark and stems in winter. The best trees for a small garden can be multifunctional too – screening an unattractive view or helping to filter ...
What do trees provide the best fall colors?
12 Trees With Brilliant Fall Color Plus Other Advantages
- 'Sunburst' Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Suncole')
- River Birch (Betula nigra)
- Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
- Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
- Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
- Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
- Beech (Fagus Spp.)
- American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
- Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus × cistena)
- Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
When to fertilize redbud?
What is the least messy tree?
- Red Maple. Maple trees are ideal for providing shade and shape to any yard. ...
- Flowering Dogwood. ...
- Raywood Ash. ...
- Fruitless Mulberry. ...
- American Hornbeam. ...
- Japanese Zelkova. ...
- Sweetbay Magnolia. ...
- Fruitless Olive Trees.
Which trees can turn red in the fall?
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
- Color Variation: Dark-green summer leaves; yellow, orange, purple, and red fall colors
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil; does not do well in alkaline soil

What does a redbud tree look like in the fall?
0:462:22Eastern Redbud Starts its Fall Foliage Show - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRed and yellow foliage variety of the eastern. Redbud. So that's why i really love this tree it's aMoreRed and yellow foliage variety of the eastern. Redbud. So that's why i really love this tree it's a nice small tree gets about 15 feet by 15 feet in perfect conditions i've seen it be as tall as 20.
What does a redbud look like in the winter?
0:131:37How to Identify Eastern Redbud in the Winter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTree is its bark. Now younger trees will be a smooth brown but as the tree gets older the bark willMoreTree is its bark. Now younger trees will be a smooth brown but as the tree gets older the bark will become more rigid furrowed and a bit scaly as well as a bit of a dark gray to maroon.
Are there different colors of redbud trees?
Most of the redbud cultivars have colored foliage varieties that further enhance the overall beauty, look and appeal of these trees. The foliage color typically ranges between blue, green, burgundy, gold and chartreuse while the flowers usually sport a pink or white color.
Do redbud trees stay red?
They emerge a reddish color, turning dark green as summer approaches and then yellow in the fall. Makes a bold landscape statement, with its irregular branching and graceful crown. Yields brown to brownish-black pods that are 2–3" in length, remaining on the tree throughout winter.
What is the difference between American redbud and eastern redbud?
Also called the American redbud, the Eastern redbud is perfect as a specimen flowering tree. Grow in full sun to partial shade, plant in well-draining soil, and water regularly during the growing season. Eastern redbuds grow in zones 4 – 9.
Do redbud trees lose their leaves in winter?
Maples, birch, willow, oak, hickory, dogwood, and redbud are all deciduous trees that are known for losing their leaves during the winter.
Do redbud trees turn green?
Eastern redbud leaves are alternate, simple, broadly heart-shaped and 3 to 5 inches high and wide. Leaves emerge reddish, turning green as they expand. Leaves are dark green in summer and yellowish in autumn. The showy flowers are pea-like and rosy pink with a purplish tinge.
Is a redbud tree a good tree?
In fact, the redbud is so indispensable to these valuable animals some experts rate it as one of our top 10 most important native flowering trees. The high rating stems from the species' ability to provide these insects with an abundant supply of nectar and pollen when both are often hard to find elsewhere.
Is there a white redbud tree?
The white redbud (Cercis canadensis f. alba) is far less common in the natural landscape, but quite popular in parks and backyards. And this beautiful tree traces its rise to horticultural prominence right here, to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Do redbud trees stay purple?
Although most redbuds have lavender-pink flowers, certain varieties and cultivars have white, deep magenta, or light pink flowers. The leaf color may also vary, ranging from deep purple to chartreuse.
What is the lifespan of a redbud tree?
50 to 70 yearsLife span: When healthy, the redbud tree should live from 50 to 70 years. However, with certain pathogens, particularly verticilliim wilt, a wilt disease caused by fungi, and trunk cancer can significantly decrease its lifespan.
What is the difference between a redbud tree and a dogwood tree?
Dogwoods are stiffer than redbuds, their leafy growth is more lush, and growth habit is rounded and wide. The redbud tree sprouts elegant vase-like sprays of willowy limbs and branches and appears more lithe and slender. Most redbud trees can live up to 25 years, but the flowering dogwood endures three times as long.
What does a redbud tree look like in the fall?
Eastern redbud leaves are alternate, simple, broadly heart-shaped and 3 to 5 inches high and wide. Leaves emerge reddish, turning green as they expand. Leaves are dark green in summer and yellowish in autumn. The showy flowers are pea-like and rosy pink with a purplish tinge.
What color do redbud trees turn in the fall?
canary yellow. The trunk of the redbud commonly divides close to the ground, creating an interesting multi-trunk shape with graceful arched branches and a rounded crown. Heart-shaped leaves 2 to 6 inches in length emerge a reddish color, turning dark green in summer and then a bright canary yellow in autumn.
What does an Eastern redbud look like in the winter?
Mature trees reach up to 30 feet and have short trunks with wide, rounded crowns. Its leaves are entire, round or heart-shaped, and turn golden-yellow in the fall. Gathered below the tree in winter, the leaves maintain their shape and are a light orange-brown color.
Do Eastern Redbuds lose their leaves?
Redbuds and many other trees normally drop some leaves early when drought-stressed. … Don’t worry too much if the branches are still alive (scrape off the bark on a defoliated twig to see if it has green and moist tissue) and if 50 % of the leaves remain green. New leaves will appear next spring.
Do redbud trees change color in fall?
Redbud is usually grown as a multi-trunk tree and has a rounded crown. It provides yellow fall color with the first frost, and is deciduous, so it drops all of its heart-shaped leaves in one season.
Do redbud trees lose their leaves in winter?
Maples, birch, willow, oak, hickory, dogwood, and redbud are all deciduous trees that are known for losing their leaves during the winter.
How many years does it take for a redbud tree to bloom?
Blooms in a profusion of rosy pink flowers in April. Begin flowering at a young age, sometimes as early as 4 years. Features somewhat heart-shaped leaves 2–6″ in length.
What are the flowers of Eastern Redbud?
Eastern redbud flowers ( Cercis canadensis ). white flowers of serviceberry and wild plum and before (and during) the white and pink flowers of the flowering dogwood. Although the flower of the species is lavender-pink, certain varieties and cultivars have white, magenta-pink or rosy pink flowers.
Where is the redbud tree?
Redbud. Eastern redbud ( Cercis canadensis ), also called Judas tree, is an outstanding, deciduous ornamental tree in South Carolina . This is a small tree native to the eastern United States and Canada, with lavender-pink blossoms that open early in spring and are as colorful as any flowering spring tree in the landscape.
What is wrong with redbuds?
Problems. Redbuds are very susceptible to Botryosphaeria canker and dieback on the branches. This is a fungal disease that enters twigs and branches, feeds on the living tissue below the bark, and spreads around the stem. Once it encircles the branch, the water supply beyond that point is cut off to the leaves.
How big do redbuds get?
Mature Height/Spread. Redbuds always remain small, maturing at 20 to 30 feet in height and 15 to 35 feet in width. They generally grow as a small tree with a divided trunk close to the ground. The spreading crown is usually rounded to flat-topped. It can develop as a multi-trunk shrub.
How to get rid of disease on a tree?
Pruning out the diseased branches and disposing of the cuttings will significantly help to reduce disease. Prune when the stems and foliage are dry. Cut the stem 6-8” below where any sunken, cracked or diseased area is, and disinfest the pruners between cuts with a spray of rubbing alcohol on the pruners.
How tall does an alba plant grow?
Comes true to type from seed if isolated from cross-pollination by the pink-flowered redbuds. Grows to 15 to 25 feet tall and wide.
What color are the leaves of a lavender plant?
The heart-shaped leaves are reddish as they emerge, and gradually turn dark green in summer. The fall color is yellow.
When do redbuds bloom?
Though petite, the dark branches are filled with gorgeous pink blooms in the spring and richly colored leaves in the summer and fall.
What is a redbud tree?
A redbud tree is a small, deciduous tree or shrub in the genus Cercis. Found in the pea family (Fabaceae) along with legumes and beans, redbuds have the flower and seedpod forms that are typical for the family. Redbud species are native to temperate zones around the world, and their striking, year-round beauty has spread to gardens ...
How tall are Chinese redbuds?
However, because of different environmental conditions in the U.S., Chinese redbuds are more of a shrub at only 8-15 feet tall.
How big does a redbud grow?
Grows up to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
How long does it take for redbuds to flower?
In fact, they generally start flowering within the first four years! Fun Fact: Many parts of the redbud tree are edible! Native Americans ate the flowers and used the bark as a medicinal treatment for dysentery, whooping cough, congestion, and nausea. Add the flowers to a salad for a delicious and nutritious treat!
How tall do redbuds get?
Distinct from other redbuds with flowers that grow in racemes as opposed to along the branches. The trees grow to about 25 feet tall and are covered with silvery brown bark.
What is a Ruby Falls Redbud?
Ruby Falls Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’) Another redbud that takes a weeping form, the ruby falls is a small, compact tree. Flowing branches and small form truly resemble a cascade of flowers or leaves, depending on the season. But no matter the time of year, this tree is sure to bring elegance to any garden.

Mature Height/Spread
Growth Rate
- Redbuds grow at a moderate rate, about 7 to 10 feet in five to six years. They tend to be short-lived, often declining from disease after about 20 years.
Ornamental Features
- The most appealing feature of this tree is the showy flower, which is magenta in bud, but opens to lavender-pink before the leaves emerge early in spring. The flowers appear in clusters that nearly cover the bare branches of the tree. They remain for two to three weeks. They usually appear in early spring after the white flowers of serviceberry and...
Landscape Use
- This tree is best used in naturalized areas, where the flowers are contrasted against evergreens or woodlands. It can be used as a specimen or in groupings in a shrub border. Although the redbud does well in most soil types, it prefers moist, well-drained sites. It does not, however, like those that are permanently wet. It tolerates acid or alkaline soils. It grows well in full sun but prefers s…
Problems
- Redbuds are very susceptible to Botryosphaeria canker and dieback on the branches. This is a fungal disease that enters twigs and branches, feeds on the living tissue below the bark, and spreads around the stem. Once it encircles the branch, the water supply beyond that point is cut off to the leaves. The branch will suddenly wilt and die. Redbuds that are under drought stress w…
Upright Cultivars & Varieties
- ‘Forest Pansy’ (PP#22,297) ̶ This is one of the earliest and most popular cultivars. It has deep burgundy foliage that loses its intense color in the heat of summer, becoming almost bronze Flowers...
- ‘Merlot’ (PP#22,297) – Semi-upright habit with deep wine-red, thick foliage and heat tolerance. A hybrid of ‘Forest Pansy’ (purple foliage) and ‘Texas White’ (var. texensis). Cultivar has a den…
- ‘Forest Pansy’ (PP#22,297) ̶ This is one of the earliest and most popular cultivars. It has deep burgundy foliage that loses its intense color in the heat of summer, becoming almost bronze Flowers...
- ‘Merlot’ (PP#22,297) – Semi-upright habit with deep wine-red, thick foliage and heat tolerance. A hybrid of ‘Forest Pansy’ (purple foliage) and ‘Texas White’ (var. texensis). Cultivar has a dense,...
- ‘Ace of Hearts’ (PP#17,161) – Similar to species except flower color is much pinker. A compact tree that grows to 12 feet tall.
- ‘Hearts of Gold’ (PP#17,740) ̶ Spring foliage is intense golden-yellow and gradually changes to chartreuses as the summer advances. More golden foliage in full sun. Grows to 15 feet tall w…
Weeping Cultivars
- texensis‘Traveler’ – A selection with a broad mound shape and weeping (gracefully arching) branches. New leaves emerge coppery green, then become dark and glossy green; flowers are lavender-pink. G...
- ‘Covey’ (Lavender Twist™; PP#10,328) ̶ A weeping form with arching branches that creates an umbrella-shaped crown. Leaves are a rich green, and fall color is golden yellow. Grows to 5 t…
- texensis‘Traveler’ – A selection with a broad mound shape and weeping (gracefully arching) branches. New leaves emerge coppery green, then become dark and glossy green; flowers are lavender-pink. G...
- ‘Covey’ (Lavender Twist™; PP#10,328) ̶ A weeping form with arching branches that creates an umbrella-shaped crown. Leaves are a rich green, and fall color is golden yellow. Grows to 5 to 6 feet ta...
- ‘Ruby Falls’ (PP#22,097) – Has a unique combination of dwarf, weeping growth habit and purple foliage. A hybrid of ‘Covey’ (weeping habit) and ‘Forest Pansy’ (purple foliage). By mid-summer, leaves...
- Whitewater (‘NC2007-8’; PP#23,998) ̶ Leaves emerge mostly white, then become variegated …
Related Species
- Chinese redbud (C. chinensis) ̶ This is a small, multi-stemmed shrub that grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Its rosy purple flowers are showier and more profuse than Eastern Redbud. Leaves are also...
- Giant redbud (C. gigantea) – From China. Foliage is glossy and dark green. Leaves are 6 to 8 inches across. Grows to 15 to 20 feet tall.