Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'fire' - Hearts A'fire Redbud

A stunning, spring-blooming small accent tree with beautiful dark pink flowers in early spring, followed by heart shaped leaves of burgundy, tangerine, and gold; older dark brown bark exfoliates to reveal orange tinted inner bark

Height: 15 feet. Spread: 15 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 5a.

Ornamental features

Heart's A'Fire™ Redbud features showy lavender pea-like flowers with pink overtones along the branches from early to mid spring before the leaves. It has attractive orange-variegated antique red foliage with hints of gold which emerges burgundy in spring. The heart-shaped leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall. The rough dark brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape

Heart's A'Fire™ Redbud is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Recommended for: Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use.

Planting and growing

Heart's A'Fire™ Redbud will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.