Arbor Day Featured Tree–The Redbud

The Eastern Redbud tree, Cercis canadensia has been a favorite of mine since kindergarten.  In the early 1950’s our school sold Redbud trees to help a school fundraiser.  They were $ .25 each, and we sold 100’s of trees.  Each spring I recall that time of my life and smile a little when I see rosy wafts of color in the still stark woods in Southwest Ohio.  Along roads and streams the native redbud probably was not all attributed to my kindergarten class, but I like to think I had a little hand in this hopeful sign of spring.


The Redbud is a short lived tree that is grown in Zones 4 – 9, and when we bought this property, we had four redbuds that had outlived their beauty.  As I have documented in past posts, we have also had to remove pines, mulberry, ash, and blue spruce. So with this blank slate, we headed to the garden center to get a Redbud ,’Forest Pansy.’

Redbud, 'Forest Pansy'

The lovely dark purple and pink leaves are stunning, and I had my mind made up – until I saw some of the ‘new’ redbuds available in the marketplace.  So, let me show you some really great cultivars that breeders have developed in Redbuds.

The tree we finally brought home is a variety called ‘Solar Eclipse’.  The variegated green and cream leaf really caught my eye.
This cold hardy tree in Zone 4,  had pink-lavender blooms on the stems before leaves appear.  The leaves are emerging as a fresh golden orange.  This tree will stay small with a mature height of about 12 feet tall.

Blooms of Redbud, 'Solar Eclipse'

New Home for my 'Solar Eclipse'

Several varieties of weeping Redbuds that are available are ‘Ruby Falls’, ‘Cascading Hearts’, ‘Lavender Twist’.

Redbud, 'Ruby Falls'

Redbud, 'Cascading Hearts'

Redbud, 'Lavender Twist'

The ‘Ruby Falls’ is a weeping Redbud with tiny pink flowers before dark burgundy foliage appears.  As the season progresses the leaves turn a dark green. Finally in autumn, the bright gold foliage takes of the show.  ‘Ruby Falls’ is good for a small garden since it’s mature size is only 6’ to 15’ tall.

‘Cascading Hearts’ is another weeping Redbud that will get about 15’ tall also with pendulous branches that are flexible and have a fuller weeping form. This Redbud has great fall foliage of orange and red.

‘Lavender Twist’ is an eastern Redbud in a weeping form and has zigzagging branches that mound to a mature height of 6’ to 8’ tall.

Redbud, 'Rising Sun'

‘Rising Sun’ really caught my eye since it’s spring foliage emerges with hints of orange and apricot. Flowers of pink, ‘Rising Sun’ matures at about 15 feet.

 

Redbud, 'Burgundy Hearts'

 ‘Burgundy Hearts’, also known as ‘Greswan’ is an eastern Redbud with pink flowers and these lovely glossy reddish-purple leaves.  They will fade to a green as the season progresses.  Growers believe this burgundy color will stay longer into the season than the ‘Forest Pansy’ leaf does.

Redbud, 'Merlot'

‘Merlot’ also has dark purple leaves that emerge after bright pink flowers.  Hardy in Zone 6-9, this small 10’ – 15’ dense trees is ideal for small yards.


‘Don Egolf’ will be a popular variety in my opinion.  It is a slow grower with dark green foliage, that emerges after vivid, rosy-mauve blooms.  This trees is sterile and does not produce seed or unsightly pods, and is not invasive.  It is compact in size and can tolerate most any type soil.  This variety is a Chinese Redbud, Cercis chingii.

Chinese Redbud, 'Don Egolf'

'Hearts of Gold'

This is the leaf color of an appropriately named variety – ‘Hearts of Gold’. The reddish new growth turns into this lovely gold but will eventually turn green.As the leaves emerge, they change from the opening color of red, to golden yellow and in inner leaves will be green.  The emerging leaves can give a show of all three colors at a time for great impact. The flowers are a lavender-purple.

Redbud 'Royal White'

One Redbud I saw at the nursery had white blooms.  It is ‘Alba – Royal White’ and it was stunning.  The ‘Royal White’ blooms earlier than some of the other white redbuds and it’s spring leaves start being burgundy, then fade to green.  Later in the season the leaves turn to a blue-green before turning yellow in the fall.  It does produce 4” pea pods that wildlife appreciate. ‘Royal White’ is a large Redbud and will peak to 30 feet tall. 

'Redbud, 'Appalachian Red'

‘Appalachian Red’ is smaller at a mature height of 15’ to 25’ and is heat tolerant.  Deep fuchsia red blooms stand out in the landscape, and the blue/green foliage turns brilliant yellow in fall.

Redbud, 'Traveler'

One other type of Redbud is the Texas Redbud.  ‘Traveler’ is similar to  ‘Lavender Twist’, but the red buds are smaller, and glossy leaves resist fading in the heat of summer.

Other popular Redbud varieties are 'Pink Charm', 'Pinkbud', 'Silver Cloud', and "Flame'. No matter what variety of Redbud you choose, I believe you will have hope and a smile that spring is truly here when these beauties bloom.  Arbor Day is April 27, 2013.  Let’s celebrate trees and plant a tree or three. 

Garden Gifts Are Blessings

Gift of Sights – Blessing #8

Certainly the actual gift of sight is what is viewed with the eye.  But for this exercise, I am referring to the views we see with those eyes in the garden.

Gazing up through the trees, to a cloudless sky is a blessing.  Looking across a field of wildflowers, gently swaying waves of color is certainly a gift. Watching a pollen laden bee tirelessly working another blossom is a gift.

 Pleasing sights are truly a blessing.  Some elements that the eye finds pleasing are symmetry, proportion, shapes, and color.

These shapes of the oval or the columnar work as features in the garden.

 

Trees and shrubs come in various sizes and shapes.  Shapes that are tall in the landscape draw the eye upward and take in the vastness of structures and views.  Plants that are low and round enclose and area and make us feel cozy.  


By grouping plants in sets of odd numbers, the eye picks this out to be pleasing.  Use three, five, seven, or more is lovely, and a gift from the garden.




Multi-trunked  River Birch is used as a focal point. The eye seeks out the structural element and its shape and texture add to the beauty the eye sees- a place to let the eye rest on its journey.

 



This Redbud, Forest Pansy, stands out a specimen tree in this landscape.  The leaves keep this pinkish mauve color and grouped here among the foundation plants, is a great focal point. The subtle shades in the garden are calming, refreshing and often come with a sigh putting the body and the mind at rest.


 

Something as simple as this fountain creates a lovely sight and a focal point too.  The peachy colors tie into the surrounding plants, and the tall, burgundy cannas to the back offer balance.

 Bouncing colors against another in the same hue, or shade, is not difficult.  If you like the combination, the combination is perfect. A gift of color and style create an interesting sight.



Any border in the garden  should move the eye around from front to back, and draw the visitor along into the garden. Here the taller roses are at the rear, with a medium planting of sage, and the low, front of the border is parsley.  This is a nice combination of color and balance; a blessing of a beautiful sight in this border.




Two common elements of these borders are the smooth curved edges.  This feature is done well and is a gift for the eye to behold. The smooth transition from the lawn and border gives the eye a continuous line to move it along. Cut deep so the grass isn't running back into the plants, or with an edging of stones to keep the line crisp, these beds are enjoyable.

Curves offer an easy transition for the eye and act as a frame of a masterpiece when outlines of grass and mulch define the view.


If this straight lined garden pleases your eye, perhaps it is the offset of the center path.  Or the placement of round, curved stones. The eye can find pleasure in this lovely space. Cool colors and a quietness fill the space.The uncluttered space lets the view become a meditation area as the eye and mind reflect on life.





Containers can be simple with just one plant type included.  But when a large planter is being featured, remember the combination of, ‘Spillers, Fillers, and Chillers’.  Spillers refer to the draping plant around the outer edges; the Filler is the middle plant of medium height, and the Chiller is the tall centerpiece. This arrangement is stunning and the eye will appreciate how the motion moves up and down, and back again.  Truly a blessing.




This entry way is done well.  The curve of the walk, the varying heights of the plants, and the focal point of the globed standard in front of the window make this landscape a pleasant sight for the eye.  All is proportioned well.  ( Front beds depth needs to be 1/3 of the height of the outside wall.  If the side of the house is 12 feet high, then the border bed should be at least 4 feet from the foundation.  Proportion in plant height should be considered too.  A bed of 6 inch begonias against a 12 foot siding, would not please the eye.)

The eye goes to color.  As in this photo of a contemporary garden, the orange artwork is accented by red/orange mulch.  In this case the plant material is the backdrop of the art. Very well done, and a blessing to the eye.

Likewise, moving a single color of plant - say a white phlox - through the garden lets the eye move from white to white. Viewing the landscape in this way allows the eye to see the whole area, and take in the subtle changes in shadows, light, and color and is truly a gift.  .



So many views of the garden, and each one changes from week to week, and season to season.  As a few colorful plants spend down their bloom time, another scene comes into focus, just as interesting, and just as pleasing.   Each is a gift, and a blessing to see.
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Thanks for visiting Gardening Naturally with me today.  Do you have a favorite view in your garden?  Please share it with us.