Grows from 12-15' in height
Kay's Early Hope Redbud has bright pink flowers that form on the stems in early spring. This redbud thrives in full sun to part shade. Kay's Early Hope is a good understory tree. Named after N.C. State University's outstanding women's basketball coach, Kay Yow.
Photo Credit: JC Raulston Arboretum
Cercis canadensis, commonly called eastern redbud, is a deciduous, often multi-trunked understory tree with a rounded crown that typically matures to 20-30’ tall with a slightly larger spread. It is particularly noted for its stunning pea-like rose-purple flowers which bloom profusely on bare branches in early spring (March-April) before the foliage emerges. This tree is native to eastern and central North America from Connecticut to New York to southern Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Western Texas and Florida. It is found in open woodlands, thickets, woodland margins, limestone glades, and along rocky streams and bluffs throughout Missouri (Steyermark). Flowers bloom in clusters of 4-10. Flowers are followed by flattened leguminous bean-like dry seedpods that mature to brown in summer. Each pod has 6-12 seeds. Pods may remain on the tree into winter. Alternate, simple, cordate, broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, dull green to blue-green leaves have a papery texture and are short-pointed at the tip. Leaves turn pale yellow to greenish-yellow in fall. - Missouri Botanical Garden
Photo Credit: NC State Extension
Grows 15-20' height x 15' Spread
Foliage is shades of green, red, and yellow.
Use as a small, understory tree. Offers abundant small pea-like pink flowers in the early spring followed by heart-shaped foliage. Likes sun to part shade and is tolerant of average, well-drained soils. Will not tolerate wet soils.
Grows 20-30'
'Forest Pansy' redbud is a purple-leafed, small, understory tree. Offers abundant small pea-like lavender-pink flowers in the early spring, followed by attractive purple-hued, heart-shaped foliage. Likes sun to part shade and is tolerant of average, well-drained soils. Will not tolerate wet soils.
Photo Credit: The JC Raulston Arboretum; Wiki Commons