I adore the miscellany of the changing seasons , from the still blanket of snow in the winter to the blissful feeling of Lord’s Day on my skin during the summer .

But when Old Man Winter is on the verge of overstay his welcome , there ’s no better way to show him the doorway than control the cheerful coloring of redbuds in bloom .

Now , if only I could narrow it down to one or two multifariousness …

A close up horizontal image of the bright pink flowers of a redbud tree in full bloom in the spring garden.

Photo via Alamy.

We unite to trafficker to avail you find relevant product . If you grease one’s palms from one of our links , we may earn a delegacy .

Cercis canadensis are n’t just for those hop to add some spring colour to the landscape painting .

These days , they add up in crying mannikin , and versions with zig zagging branch . you may regain single with red , orangish , and pink foliage in the summer or variegated leaves that saltation in the walkover .

A vertical image of a pink redbud tree in full bloom pictured on a blue sky background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

quick to take a look ? Here ’s a quick trailer of all the alluring options we ’ll cover in this roundup :

21 Favorite Redbud Varieties

AllCercis canadensis , or eastern Cercis canadensis , cultivars need about 700 chill 60 minutes below 50 ° F to flower well .

C. texensiscultivars ( includingvar.texensis‘Oklahoma ’ ) , California redbuds ( C. occidentalis),and Chinese redbuds ( C. chinensis ) all need about 500 chill hr .

Most redbuds will still flower if they ’re a picayune unretentive on frisson hours , but they ’ll bloom much more profusely and with more colour if they experience the amount they need .

A close up horizontal image of the vibrant pink flowers of Cercis ‘Avondale’ pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Redbuds are cauliflorous , which means that the blossom come forth on the bare trunk and branch in the spring before any leaf has poked out . The flowers are then gradually replaced by leaf .

You canlearn more about redbud and how to grow them in our guide .

Unless otherwise noted , C. canadensisandC. chinensiscultivars do well in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9 .

A horizontal image of a dramatic ‘Ace of Hearts’ redbud tree in full bloom with light pink flowers.

Western ( C. occidentalis)and California redbuds are less hardy , growing good in Zones 7 to 9 .

1. Ace of Hearts

C. canadensis‘Ace of Hearts ’ is small in every way . The nanus - sized flora only uprise to about 12 base tall with an upright substance abuse , and the leaves and flush are proportionately small .

While all redbuds have spunk - mold leaves , the foliage on this cultivar is specially dead heart - shaped .

The gist is a compact , dense conformation with a embarrassment of tiny green hearts tremble in the walkover .

A square image of Cercis ‘Ace of Hearts’ in full bloom growing in a garden border.

This Cercis canadensis incline to grow as extensive as it is tall , with a proportionate canopy and symmetrical leaf growth . It makes a pleasing , clean architectural statement in the yard .

‘ Ace of Hearts ’

But do n’t forget the blooms ! The spring prime are rose pink with a mite of purple .

A close up horizontal image of the cream and green variegated foliage of Cercis ‘Alley Cat’ pictured on a soft focus background.

If you want an choice that you could grow as either a gravid shrub or a small tree , depending on how you prune it , foot up this winnerat Fast Growing Trees .

They bear unrecorded trees in two- to three- , three- to four- , and four- to five - foot sizes .

2. Alley Cat

Named in 2016 , ‘ Alley Cat ’ is one tough customer .

ThisC. canadensiscultivar was found growing raging in an alley in Louisville , Kentucky by Allen Bush , who gave it to Harald Neubauer of Hidden Hollow Nursery to cultivate and deal .

It has been bringing its sassy vary foliage to backyard across the US ever since .

A close up square image of the bright pink flowers of Cercis ‘Alley Cat’ pictured on a soft focus background.

Honestly , I love underdog achiever stories , so I ’d credibly adore this option no matter what .

The essence - forge folio are intermediate - green and munificently speckled with creamy - lily-white blotches , but before that , when they go forth in the spring , they ’re amazingly pinkish .

Sometimes variegated foliage can scorch in the Lord’s Day , but ‘ Alley Cat ’ maintains its colour even in full pic .

A square image of Cercis ‘Avondale’ in full bloom with bright pink flowers growing in the garden.

‘ Alley Cat ’

The flowers are shining majestic - pinko , covering the 20 - base - tall and 30 - foot - full tree in a dense cover of color .

Give this ‘ Alley Cat ’ a upright home by grab oneat Nature Hills Nursery .

A close up square image of the foliage of ‘Black Pearl’ redbud pictured on a soft focus background.

3. Avondale

This semi - dwarfC. chineniscultivar stands out because of its almost neon pink flower that absolutely envelope the branches in colour so intense it seems unnatural .

It ’s also one of the most floriferous of all the redbuds .

‘ Avondale ’

A close up square image of the variegated fall foliage of ‘Carolina Sweetheart’ redbud pictured in light sunshine.

Topping out at about 12 pes , this is a good option if you want to grow a redbud in a container , where it will appease even more compact .

For a big wallop in a small parcel , grab a four- to five- or five- to six - foot ‘ Avondale’from Fast Growing Trees . reckon on how you prune it , you’re able to rise it as a large shrub or small tree .

4. Black Pearl

lover of dramatic gardens filled with midnight - hued plants , gather ‘ round .

Black Pearl ™ has large , heart - shaped leaf that are so dour purple that they appear to be opprobrious , particularly in the fall when the leave turn darker .

ThisC. canadensiscultivar has such beautiful foliage that the efflorescence are almost an rethink . precede the leave-taking , they ’re a lovely lilac color .

A close up horizontal image of the pink flowers of Cercis ‘Cascading Hearts’ pictured on a blue sky background.

When I was helping a supporter project her black garden , we had no trouble incur black flowers and herbaceous plants , but tracking down a black Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was another issue entirely .

Black Pearl ™

This cultivar fit out the bill , and it ’s arresting . Even if you are n’t pick out all dark - hued plant for your garden , it ’s a surprising accent mark among the distinctive flowers and gullible leaf .

A square image of a Cercis ‘Cascading Hearts’ tree growing in the garden.

The tree grows about 20 foot magniloquent and 25 feet broad . Feeling the gothic vibes?Head to Nature Hills Nurseryto buy a springy plant in a # 2 container .

5. Carolina Sweetheart

Redbuds are gorgeous when they ’re in efflorescence . Many hoi polloi pick these just to delight the floral show in the spring .

But Carolina Sweetheart ® is incubate in such colorful , beautiful foliage that you might forget the flora even puts out blossoms .

The leaves almost look like flowers themselves , with maroon , pinkish , cream , red , and fleeceable variegate food color .

A horizontal image of the dramatic pink spring flowers on a ‘Don Egolf’ redbud tree.

The show keep into the spill as the folio take on a jaundiced chromaticity while continuing to retain the pink , red-faced , and maroon shades .

Carolina Sweetheart ®

engender by North Carolina State University horticulturalists , thisC. canadensiscultivar can put on a self-aggrandizing , bold performance , extend to up to 30 metrical foot marvelous .

A square image of ‘Don Egolf’ redbud tree in full bloom growing in a garden border in bright sunshine.

quick for a angelic show ? Pop on overto Nature Hills Nurseryfor a live flora in a # 2 container .

6. Cascading Hearts

Get quick to tumble into making love . ‘ cascade down Hearts ’ is a dwarfC. canadensiscultivar that tops out at just eight feet with a 10 - foot spread and an graceful weeping emergence habit .

Imagine a duo of these in full bloom in big , refined tidy sum flanking a doorway . They make a big program line in a petite parcel .

Even when the trees are n’t in bloom , the crying subdivision covered in ticker - shaped leaves draw all the attention .

A close up horizontal image of the deep purple foliage of ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud tree growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

‘ cascade sum ’

If you ’ve diminish in love with ‘ Cascading Hearts , ’ we get it!Nature Hills Nurserycarries live trees in # 2 containers .

7. Claremont

Good old western Cercis canadensis ( C. occidentalis ) has n’t been crop to the extent that its eastern cousin has .

aboriginal to dry , live areas like parts of California , Arizona , and Utah , it is extremely drouth tolerant and is n’t afraid of uttermost heating plant .

On the other hand , it wo n’t stomach too much cold and ca n’t be grown north of Zone 7 .

A square image of a Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud tree with dark foliage, growing in a formal border outside a McMansion.

While the metal money is perfectly endearing , ‘ Claremont ’ is even more floriferous with a darker purple - pinkish hue to the blossoms .

The surrender leaves turn brighter xanthous than the coinage and it can tolerate colder regions , as far north as Zone 6 .

8. Don Egolf

At a midget 10 base tall , this Taiwanese cultivar is pure when you need something a little bit more petite .

The bright fuchsia flowers reliably come out twelvemonth after year , even when the tree does n’t receive the numeral of chill hour during winter that it prefers .

Since it ’s uninventive , you do n’t have to concern about the mess of germ pods , either .

A square image of ‘Golden Falls’ redbud tree growing in the garden.

It ’s super disease - immune , dull growing , and observe a stocky flesh without pruning .

‘ Don Egolf ’ is also implausibly prolific in terms of flowering . You ca n’t even see the barque underneath when the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is in bloom .

‘ Don Egolf ’

A horizontal image of Cercis ‘Lavender Twist,’ a weeping redbud in full bloom with bright pink flowers.

Want one to grow in your yard?Head to Fast Growing Trees .

9. Forest Pansy

ThisC. canadensiscultivar is darker overall than the stock species .

It has imperial - reddened blossoms that stick to around for nearly a calendar month , and dark unripe foliage that first emerge in dark glasses of dark reddish - purple in the bound .

‘ Forest Pansy ’ will finally reach 30 feet marvelous , which mean you ’re in for a majestic show in the leap .

A square image of a Lavender Twist weeping redbud growing in the garden.

‘ Forest Pansy ’

clean up a four- to five- , five- to six- , or six- to seven - foot - tall treeat Fast Growing Trees .

10. Golden Falls

A redbud might not be the first that comes to judgement when you ’re thinking of a columnar option for your garden .

But Golden Falls ® is aC. canadensisdwarf that is tall and narrow-minded , with crying branches .

You could form a living fencing with these , farm them in container , or feature one as the centerpiece in a small garden .

A horizontal image of a Judas tree growing in the garden in full bloom.

Golden Falls ®

When mature , it ’s just eight feet grandiloquent and three feet wide . Covered in gold - unripened leave of absence , it attend like a fortunate waterfall of hearts in the summer and a fountain of garden pink in the spring .

Golden Falls ® looks all unlike any other redbud . Stand out with one of your ownfrom Fast Growing Trees .

A square image of a small ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ redbud tree growing in the spring garden.

11. Lavender Twist

Cercis canadensis gather all the care in the spring , but the dwarfC. canadensis‘Lavender Twist ’ puts on a four - time of year show .

Yes , it has those characteristic lavender pom covering the branches . In the summer , the nerve - shaped leaves cascade down the tears tree diagram before turning yellow in the declination .

at long last , even when all the foliage have fallen , the twisting , cry branches are an architectural statement , whether covered in snow or just stand up marginal in the garden .

A close up square image of the flowers of ‘Pink Pom Poms’ redbud pictured on a soft focus background.

It ’s so dainty , in fact , that this 10 - footer took home the top award in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree category in 2009 at the Georgia Gold Medal Awards .

‘ Lavender Twist ’

Whether you want to pot it up or place it in the ground , you may find plantsavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .

A horizontal image of the pink flowers and light green foliage of ‘Rising Sun’ pictured against a blue sky background.

Find produce tips for this diversity here .

12. Judas Tree

This mintage is called the Judas tree because it is said in Christian mythology that Judas Iscariot hang up himself from one after stag Jesus . I choose the more pollyannaish terminal figure “ Mediterranean Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . ”

Whatever you callC. siliquastrum , its aboriginal mountain chain sweep western Asia and southern Europe . Now and then , you could observe it for sales event as an ornamental in North America .

If you happen to find one , grab it . They ’re adorable , growing up to 25 infantry marvelous with a thick , full canopy full of heart - shaped leaves that emerge bronze in the spring before shifting to medium green .

A square image of the dramatic foliage of Cercis ‘Rising Sun’ growing in a garden border pictured on a blue sky background.

The pinkish - lavender blossoms ( or white on thealbavariety ) give elbow room to purple pods that flummox around on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for months .

13. Pink Heartbreaker

It ’s heartrending when a tree does n’t do as you require it to . But ‘ Pink Heartbreaker ’ wo n’t permit you down .

pinkish flower fans will fall in love with the lavender - pinkish blossom on firm , curve branches that are a feature film of this petite , 12 - foot - magniloquent tree .

‘ pinkish Heartbreaker ’

A close up of a ‘Royal White’ redbud growing in the garden.

Ready to bump center , in a near path ? Bring home a five- to six- or six- to seven - pes - tall treefrom Fast Growing Trees .

14. Pink Pom Poms

It ’s easy to see where thisC. canadensishybrid get its name . The big clusters of fully doubled , reddish - purple flowers expect like celebratory pommy poms cheer for the arrival of spring .

‘ Pink Pom Poms ’

The nitty-gritty - shaped leaves provide a glistening show during the summer , and you do n’t have to worry about messy pods in the surrender , since this Cercis canadensis is uninventive .

A horizontal image of ‘Ruby Falls’ with cascading, weeping branches growing in the garden.

snap up onefrom Fast Growing Treesto bring the jubilation to your garden .

15. Rising Sun

Rising Sun ™ is a dwarfC .canadensiscultivar that grows up to 12 feet tall with a dense growth habit , which would make it an likable pick in itself .

The cheerful reddish - pinkish pom are authoritative Cercis canadensis , and its yellowish , smooth barque bring some color to the winter landscape painting .

But all that is just subaltern to the leaf . Each folio transitions from knockout through orange , amber , and yellow to its mature lime green .

A square image of Cercis ‘Ruby Falls’ with deep purple foliage growing in a garden border outside a brick residence.

It ’s like determine C of small , heart and soul - shaped sunrises throughout the bounce and summer .

grow Sun ™

What could be better than a sunrise that you do n’t have to wake up at the fissure of cockcrow to see ?

A close up square image of the white flowers of Cercis ‘Vanilla Twist’ pictured on a blue sky background.

Make it happen in your garden by picking up a three- to four - pes live treefrom Fast Growing Trees .

16. Royal White

If you adore upright flowering cherries but you live in a drought - prostrate arena , it ’s time you metC. canadensisf.alba‘Royal White . ’

When in bloom , the 30 - foot Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree resembles aflowering cherrywith its frilly white flush and rounded canopy , but it does n’t mind ironic conditions .

‘ Royal White ’

A square image of the green and cream variegated foliage of ‘Whitewater’ redbud tree in the garden.

Give your garden the royal treatment and purchase oneat Nature Hills Nursery .

17. Ruby Falls

‘ Ruby Falls ’ is a midget eccentric , so it stays flyspeck , top out out at about 10 substructure improbable and spreading six feet wide-cut .

But as you may have judge from the name , it does n’t have the distinctive good outgrowth drug abuse . The branches are graciously weeping , like a mauve falls .

The blossoms are deep purpleness , with farewell that go forth bass purple before transitioning to deep green over the summer .

Unlike some other tears varieties like ‘ Lavender Twist , ’ it does n’t become desolate at the top as it ages .

Bred by Denny Werner of NCSU , a renowned redbud breeder , it ’s also particularly pest- and disease - tolerant .

‘ Ruby Falls ’

Fast Growing tree carriesfour- to five - foot - tall saplings of this particular cultivar should you want to work one home base . And you should !

18. Tennessee Pink

C. canadensis‘Tennessee Pink ’ is appeal because of its dwarf stature , growing no tall than 12 foot , and its broad canopy , which can stretch up to 15 feet wide .

The rounded canopy is wrapped in everlasting flush pinkish blossoms that lack the empurpled hue that many redbuds have .

The prime last for at least three calendar week before get to way of life for the glossy , dark green leave . Then , in the drop , the heart - forge foliage turns bright yellow .

19. Vanilla Twist

How about aC. canadensisredbud with a bit of a wrench on the traditional pink - blossomed , upright tree diagram ?

‘ Vanilla Twist ’ has a weeping form that grows about 12 foot magniloquent and eight feet wide of the mark with bright white blossoms .

The elegant branches arc down to within a foot of the soil , creating the face of a belch fountain of flowers .

‘ Vanilla Twist ’

apply it as an accent or as the centerpiece in a small garden .

Add a twist to your garden video display and grab yourself a treeat Fast Growing Trees .

20. Whitewater

Nope , it ’s not white blossoms that make thisC. canadensiscultivar look like you ’re facing the lower side of your local white piddle rapids .

This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has dark purple flower in the spring . It ’s the foliage that reach this eight - foot crier that look .

The heart - shaped leaves are a mixture of white and green , with some primarily white with just hints of cat valium , and others the opponent .

Young folio have a weak pink chromaticity , for a scintillating swirl of color overall .

‘ Whitewater ’

Anytime you witness a tree bred by Dr. Dennis Werner , a horticulturalist at North Carolina State University , you know you ’re likely in for a good thing . That ’s definitely the case here .

Ready to experience the chill ? Pick up a # 2 containerat Nature Hills Nursery .

21. Zig Zag

Zig Zag ® is aC. canadensiscultivar unlike anything else out there .

Yes , the Battle of Magenta blossom in the leap are beautiful and the bright orange foliage in the fall is eye - get , but this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree turns heads namely because of its body and branch .

The trunk and branches zig and zag back and forth in symmetrical lines , constitute a honeycomb upshot overall that deserves a double and triple take .

It ’s so stellar , whether the tree is covered in snow or blossoms .

Find the Right Redbud for You

Redbuds used to be an easy choice . You need some bright color in the early spring on a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that is n’t too vast ? Grab a redbud .

But these days , some excellent breeders have created cultivar with variegate leaves , weeping sort , white flowers , and pink foliage . We ’re spoiled for pick !

If you ’d care to bring home a few friends for your Cercis canadensis , and you mat like this guide was utilitarian , we have someother guide to landscape treesthat can help you make your conclusion , including :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product pic via FastGrowingTrees.com , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .

About

Kristine Lofgren