PlantFiles: Eastern Redbud, Canadian Redbud, Judas Tree
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

I really like this tree. It is certainly one of the better purple/red/burgundy/maroon-leaved small trees available in commerce. There are major flaws, unfortunately. Every personal experience with this tree has ended in grief. Unless efforts are taken towards developing a structurally sound trunking arrangement, an awkward branching structure will develop resulting in major wind damage. The last tree I had on my property literally split right down the middle during the last big wind storm. I suspect it may have been grafted with the graft resulting in the abnormal development of core branches. Redbuds in general are also quite susceptible to a wide array of diseases with most detrimental to long-term health.

The flowering display is great, and the emerging leaves are a wonderful compliment to the overall effect. It is quite a fast grower once established. Drought tolerance is also a plus. The intensity of the leaves will fade out as the summer progresses, but the color is still very pleasing. There are newer purple-leafed Cercis cultivars emerging in the market that may be worth a look.

I love my 'Forest Pansy' redbud. From the stunning color to the beautiful shape, nothing else can compare. My tree is 5 years old, about 15' tall, but I've never noticed it bloom in zone 5a. I'll add acidic mulch to it this year and see if that makes a change.
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When I purchased mine the leaves were a beautiful purple. However, after the hurricane blew through it broke the small tree in half but did not break it into. I stood it back up and secured it in hopes it would one day mend it's self. It put out leaves and was carring on with life the way redbuds do, even it laying on the ground on their sides. Well another storm came through and broke the damaged part off of the tree. I felt for sure that it would die, but alas leaves apeared. One problem, the are a deep green, not purple!!!!! How can this be? The leaves are beautiful and healthy, but green! Are these trees grafted? If anyone can enlighten me I would appreciate it, as they are expensive and my heart is sad because I loved this purple tree!

Sweet "P"

This is an incredible redbud. I've read that Forest Pansy doesn't bloom as well as others, but I'm happy with it. In fact, this year the flowering was very good. The leaves, though, are the main reason to obtain one. They are so beautiful! I would never be without it--it puts the others to shame. One possible problem--the branches seem really weak and will break off with a heavy snow. Perhaps all redbuds are like that, though.

I bought this from local seller ( zone 5) that had it semi-protected on the South side of a building. Not sure if it died in my garden due to her chopping the roots off that had grown extensively from the bottom of the pot, or if it is just marginally hardy in zone 5a. Either way- it died, so I'm giving it a neutral rating. I have the common redbud which does just fine for me.

This tree was recommended to me by a horticulturist and a landscape architect and named was 'Tree of the Year' soon after. It is beautiful and provides wonderful shade in my tiny yard. It does require regular pruning, as it sprouts new branches, and new branch-lets on those, all summer long. Unlike the more familiar redbuds, the growth is in all directions, creating crossed branches. Because it grows so fast, these need modest pruning during the season AND again before spring to avoid having to cut thick branches to control overall shape. I love this tree in spite of the pruning and tendency to narrow crotches. Sitting beneath it as sunlight turns the leafy canopy to stained glass is magical!

I live in a Zone 5 in Nova Scotia, Canada, and my Eastern Redbud is doing very well! Sometimes I notice some broken limbs after winter has passed and spring has arrived, but overall this is my favourite tree on my property. I read that it requires some shelter, but I have an open property with no large trees for a canopy and it has survived!! I thoroughly enjoy looking forward every spring to the colourful flowers followed by the many heart-shaped leaves! A true winner in my eyes!

Gorgeous little tree. Several planted in the park close to my home. Stopped in my tracks by the lovely spring color.

We have a serious Japanese Beetle problem here in central Maryland. They are definitely attracted to purple-leaved trees in this area. This variety opens burgundy but then greens out before the beetles arrive and 'Purple Pansy" proceeds through the summer untouched. Color returns for the fall. Large heart-shaped leaves are charming and the vase shape perfectly accommodates a bench underneath.

Slow to plow through the clay layer in Central Maryland, but well worth the wait. Do not cover the graft joint.

We love these so much, we planted 3!

I just barely identified this tree at my place and I'm glad I did because now I can call it something else besides my umbrella tree. ;)
Seriously, this tree is a delight to have. It does extremely well in our sandy soil and the flowers are so delicate and beautiful. Easy to maintain. If I had it my way, I'd have some more...

I planted 2 of these in my garden. They were about 5 ft tall when I bought them and this will be the first year they will bloom so I am waiting to see what they look like and they have grown allot in 1 full season

Here in Seattle, my tree has grown well but the wood is brittle and prone to breaking if we have wet, windy weather. Compounding the problem is how tight the tree crotches grow, holding moisture and causing rot. At 6 years old and approx. 15 feet high, it's been held together with straps and Gorilla Glue for the last two years since splitting in half to a foot about the ground. I would site this tree out of windy areas, and prune for trunk strength as well as to lighten the leaf canopy. Also, fall color varies but most often the leaf color is an ugly maroon-brown with sickly yellow patches.

Originally found as a seedling in 1947 at Forest Nursery, McMinnville, TN. Spectacular shimmering red-purple foliage loses its intense color by mid summer. Flowers are a more intense rose-purple and a little later blooming than the species. Vigorous grower! The picture posted is of a young tree planted a year and a half ago. It will double in size in just a couple years. Maximum height will reach about 20-30' high.

From Michael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants:
"One of my favorites for colored foliage and I do not rate too many purple leaf plants among my top 1000"

This tree can be fairly invasive. I have seedlings coming up in all of my flowerbeds. It has a taproot to China even as a very young tree so if you don't pull first year seedlings they're very difficult to remove. With that said, it is still one of my favorite trees. They are beautiful blooming in the spring, have lovely heart-shaped foliage all summer long and are also host plant to many different species of moth.

This small tree has been fairly rewarding here. We give the two we have a bit of midday shade under a Southern Magnolia. Leaves have a tendency to burn at the margins during conditions of high winds combined with low humidity. It has shown itself as a sturdy plant even in our extreme summer heat.

Bartow, Florida is just about as far south as they will grow and bloom. Most colorful in mid February.

I love this tree! The leaves are a fantastic burgandy and the blooms are a vibrant hot pink.

A singularly beautiful variety of Redbud, and should be grown more often.