Its small habit makes this spring bloomer a perfect fit for any garden.  The brilliant fuchsia-pink flowers are a real showstopper in spring.
 

The eastern redbud has long been a staple for gardeners and when the delicate flowers fill the forest edges, warmer weather is just a whisper away. While the eastern redbud’s popularity remains strong, there have been a host of newcomers hitting the streets in the last few years. One of my personal favorites is Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’ or the Appalachian red redbud.

The floral display in early spring is a spectacular hot fuchsia-pink to red and is quite different from the lavenders of the eastern strain. Its small stature makes it a perfect partner for any mixed border, patio planting or front yard specimen. The parent plant was discovered growing along a roadside in Maryland and, thanks to a plants man’s keen eye, we have this wonderful redbud to grace our gardens.

Common Name: Appalachian red redbud

Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’

Zone: 4 to 9

Color: Brilliant fuchsia-pink to red flowers in early spring

Type: Deciduous tree           

Size: 25 to 30 feet tall by 25 feet wide at maturity

Exposure: Full sun to part shade

When to Plant: Transplant from a container or balled-and-burlapped in the fall

How to Plant: Dig a shallow area twice the diameter of the root ball. Ensure the root collar is above the final grade and mulch lightly with aged hardwood or pine bark.

Soil: Prefers moist, well drained

Watering: Once weekly during the summer months until established

In Your Landscape: Specimen tree, street tree, park tree, patio tree, mixed border

Photos courtesy of C. Dwayne Jones.