Ruby Falls redbud

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; purple foliage colours best with good light, but afternoon shade helps in hot, dry climates.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing, then water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Avoid waterlogged ground.

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay or sandy soil with some organic matter; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions.

Height

6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m)

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Flowers

Early to mid-spring, before the leaves; small rosy-pink to purple-pink flowers cluster along bare branches.

Foliage

Heart-shaped leaves emerge deep burgundy-purple, often becoming greener or bronze-purple as summer progresses; autumn colour is variable, sometimes yellow.

Growth

Moderate; size and outline depend on staking and training.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2 m)

About 20 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and the graft union above the soil; choose the position carefully because established redbuds resent transplanting.
• Water deeply during the first two growing seasons whenever the upper soil begins to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Stake the main stem only if needed to establish the desired height; check ties regularly and remove support once the stem is stable.
• Use compost rather than routine heavy feeding; apply fertiliser only where growth or a soil test indicates a deficiency.
• The zone range given is for eastern redbud as a species; Ruby Falls is usually recommended for zones 5-9, so choose a sheltered site and seek local advice in zone 4.

Pruning. Prune lightly just after flowering, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and shortening trailing shoots only where they obstruct access. Remove shoots arising below the graft promptly, and avoid heavy pruning or cutting back the trained main stem.

Early spring

Plant while dormant if the ground is workable and not waterlogged; in cold districts, favour spring over autumn planting.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that the graft union and trunk base remain uncovered.

Late spring

After flowering, prune lightly and remove any shoots growing from below the graft.

Summer

Water during dry spells and inspect leaves and branches for scorch, scale insects or dieback.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is still warm; water thoroughly and mulch.

Winter

Check stakes and ties, and protect young trunks from rabbits or other browsing animals where necessary.

• Use as a single focal tree in a small lawn or courtyard bed, leaving room for the branches to cascade.
• Place against pale paving or a light-coloured wall to make the purple foliage and weeping outline easier to see.
• Underplant with low, shade-tolerant groundcovers that leave the trunk base clear.
• Pair with green or silver foliage in a mixed border for contrast without relying on flowers.

Garden styles it suits: Small-space, Modern courtyard, Architectural minimal, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden and Woodland.

Plant it with: Coral bells, Japanese forest grass, Hellebores, Foamflower, Siberian bugloss and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Spring flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees. Branches offer cover and perching places for small birds, although this compact cultivar provides less habitat than a full-sized eastern redbud.

• Canker and branch dieback: prune affected branches back into healthy wood in dry weather, disinfect tools between cuts and reduce drought stress; extensive trunk cankers may require replacement.
• Verticillium wilt: sudden wilting or one-sided dieback needs diagnosis; there is no reliable cure, and a badly affected tree should be removed rather than replaced with another susceptible tree.
• Scale insects: inspect stems for attached bumps and sticky honeydew; remove small infestations by hand or use a locally approved horticultural oil according to its label.
• Leaf scorch and premature leaf drop: water deeply during drought, mulch the root zone and provide afternoon shade in very hot sites; do not compensate by keeping poorly drained soil saturated.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as a serious poisoning hazard, although chewing plant material can cause stomach upset and the ornamental tree should not be treated as animal feed.

• Lavender Twist redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Covey')

  Also compact and weeping, but its leaves are green rather than the deep purple of young Ruby Falls foliage.

• Forest Pansy redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy')

  Has similar purple, heart-shaped leaves but develops into a much larger, upright, spreading tree rather than a compact weeping one.

Redbud refers to the reddish flower buds, while the cultivar name Ruby Falls describes its rich purple-red foliage and cascading branches.

Propagation. Usually propagated by grafting or budding onto eastern redbud rootstock. Seedlings do not reliably retain the purple foliage and weeping habit; check local plant variety rights or patent restrictions before propagating this cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Cercis canadensis

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 7.9. Average height 535 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.