Genus Cercis

Cercis canadensis Photo/Illustration: Nancy Rose

SIR-sis

In this genus are found a handful of deciduous trees and shrubs from woodland areas and rocky hillsides of the Mediterranean, Asia, and North America. Leaves are heart-shaped, often with nice fall color. Flowers are small but brightly colored, usually pink, and often bloom along the branches before plants leaf out. Grow as specimen plants, or in a woodland or shrub border.
Noteworthy characteristics: Heart-shaped leaves, flowers that hug the branches, flattened seed pods.
Care: Grow in full sun or dappled shade in fertile, moist but well-drained, woodsy soil. Choose a site carefully, as plants don't like to be moved.
Propagation: Start seeds in a cold frame in autumn, or root semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Problems: Scale insects, weevils, caterpillars, whiteflies, leafhoppers, leaf spots, blights, downy mildew, canker, dieback, Verticillium wilt.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Cercis

Cercis canadensis 'Alba’
(White redbud) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

Small white flowers appear in profusion on leafless branches in early spring. Heart-shaped leaves emerge bronze, turning green, then yellow in autumn. Another white-flowered selection, 'Royal', has slightly larger blooms and more compact growth.

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
(Eastern redbud)

(1 user review)

Hardiness Zones:

In early spring, 'Forest Pansy' awakens with a long-lasting profusion of bright purplish-pink blooms borne in clusters, before the leaves, along smooth gray branches. Its heart-shaped, blood-red leaves are finely veined and glossy when young, slowly turning a dark, purple-tinged green in full sun. Autumn foliage is a bouquet of reds, purples, oranges, and yellows. The plant's graceful branching structure stands out in winter.

Cercis canadensis and cvs.
(Eastern redbud) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

Bright purplish-pink blooms are borne in clusters, before the leaves, along smooth gray branches. Heart-shaped leaves emerge bronze, turning green, then yellow in autumn. Cultivars are available with white ('Royal White') or pink flowers ('Tennessee Pink'), purple foliage ('Forest Pansy'), and weeping form ('Covey'). Grows 15 to 25 feet tall with a slightly wider spread.

Cercis canadensis Lavender Twist®
(Redbud) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

This impressive tree, also known as 'Covey', takes the beautiful deep pink spring blossoms and attractive deciduous foliage of our native redbud and displays them on its weeping form. Lavender Twist® reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide and makes a great specimen plant near walkways, foundation plantings, or patios.