It won’t be long. Spring will be announced not by the calendar, but by the flowering shrubs that open their blooms in a magnificent array of colour. First to pop will be Forsythia in deep golden yellow. Next will be Magnolia, whose showy blooms are first to open and first to drop.
In the middle of spring, after Forsythias fade but before Lilacs open, Redbuds take centre stage. When tight, flower buds are bright red, soon opening to a cloud of cheerful magenta pink.
Redbuds, more properly known as Eastern Redbuds (Cercis Canadensis) have enjoyed a rise in popularity in recent years because they are a manageable size, highly ornamental, and easy to grow, a mix that is tough to find when looking for native plants.
But Redbuds’ claim to be a native Canadian plant is but a half-truth. The plant has been rumored to be found growing wild at Pelee Island, Canada’s southernmost tip, but those rumors have never been substantiated. It is believed that all Redbuds growing in Canada have either been planted or are offspring of those planted.
Go to most of the Eastern half of United States, and you will find plenty Redbuds, most plentiful in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas. Oklahoma found Redbuds to be so significant that they named it their official state tree back in 1937.
For Ontarians, particularly those in Southwestern Ontario, Redbuds have significance because of climate and temperature. We are at the northern limit for Redbuds, as they will grow and perform successfully from Windsor to Hamilton to the Niagara Peninsula, but not much beyond. It is only in the last few decades that the Toronto area has been able to grow Redbuds, thanks in part to climate change.
Redbuds are unique in several ways. Their delightful pink flowers are only noticeable because they appear in clusters or small masses. Flowers are found on branches and will also appear on the trunk, a phenomenon known as cauliflorous.
The leaves of Redbud won’t appear until late spring, as if patiently waiting for flowers to finish their performance. Leaves are heart shaped, green, turning yellow in fall.
Redbuds are members of the pea family, evidenced by the seed pods that form in summer after flowers disappear. The green seed pods turn tan-colured in fall, then become brown, often remaining on the tree into winter.
Redbuds are an understory tree, meaning they like to grow at the edge of the forest where they will enjoy at least half the day in full sunshine. They prefer a well-drained rich soil, and won’t thrive in waterlogged conditions.
Growing to a maximum height of about 25 feet, Redbuds are sometimes listed as a large shrub while others would put it in the small tree category. They are either grown as a multi stemmed shrub, or a small tree with a single straight stem.
As with many plants, nursery growers have recognized the beauty of Redbuds, and have created cultivars stemming from the original plant. There are now about 25 varieites of Redbud, each with their own unique attributes. The most common is Forest Pansy Redbud, a variation with burgundy leaves and slightly darker flowers.
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