Cercis canadensis |
Native Region: Eastern North America
Zone Range: 4-9
Preferred Climate: Full sun; well draining average soil.
Harvest Date: Wednesday 29 December, 2010
Seed count: 20-25
Description:
Bright pinkish purple flowers clusters (literally clothe the entire tree) mark the coming of spring and gives welcome colour to any garden. Growing to 6 meters tall usually multistemmed. Attractive heart shaped pale green leaves emerge after the flowers. Bright yellow autumn colour.
Notes:
Fast growing and flowers at a young age. Member of the Legume family. Able to fix nitrogen and improve soil health, especially so when a legume innoculant is sprinked on seed when sowing. Much loved by all winged creatures. Requires little care. Seeds relished by birds. Drought tolerant when established. Morning sun is best. A customer complained that her large REDBUD flowered the first year she planted it and nothing since. She was ready to chop the tree down until we dignosed the problem with the high nitrogen fish compost she used in the garden. Remedy was to remove all the fish compost and wait to next year as it will take time to leach the nitrogen from the soil.
Cultivation:
There are various ways to germinate seed, the method I use is the same as for Black Locust. Soak in hot tap water; let cool. Seeds should swell (repeat with unresponsive seed). Sow 6 mm deep; tamp soil; place in cold frame. Keep moist (with plastic cover or mulch). Some seed could germinate quickly so keep watch. Optimum germination temp: 20-25 C. Days to germinate: 20-90. Sow thinly as seedlings grow quickly and compete with each other causing high rates of mortality or weak seedlings.
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