Eastern: Alba Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Eastern: Alba Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 25–30 ft wide, slow-growing, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade to dappled sun. Eastern redbud is borderline in our alkaline soils and intense sun, choose Western seed strains ('Oklahoma', 'Minnesota Strain', var. texensis) and plant in a protected microclimate.
medium water20–30 ft tall and 25–30 ft wideDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Rating
- Right spot only (FRTRL: Conditionally Recommended)
- Botanical name
- Cercis canadensis
- Variety / cultivar
- Eastern: Alba, Forest Pansy
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 20–30 ft tall and 25–30 ft wide
- Mature form
- Spreading
- Spacing / clearance
- ~30 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Medium
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade, dappled sun. Flowers best with more sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- pink, purple
- Bloom time
- early spring, mid spring
- Pollinator value
- high
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: ExposureIt wants shelter; open, windy, reflected-heat sites batter it, so tuck it against a building or a windbreak.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Frequently asked questions
- Is Eastern: Alba Redbud good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Eastern: Alba Redbud is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is Eastern: Alba Redbud only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How big does Eastern: Alba Redbud get?
- It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 25–30 ft wide.
- How much room does Eastern: Alba Redbud need?
- Give Eastern: Alba Redbud about 30 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Eastern: Alba Redbud grow into?
- Eastern: Alba Redbud typically grows into a wide, spreading habit, broader than it is tall, give it room and keep it back from buildings. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Eastern: Alba Redbud hardy on the Front Range?
- Eastern: Alba Redbud is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does Eastern: Alba Redbud need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Eastern: Alba Redbud grow?
- Eastern: Alba Redbud is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Eastern: Alba Redbud live?
- Eastern: Alba Redbud has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Eastern: Alba Redbud native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Eastern: Alba Redbud deer-resistant?
- Eastern: Alba Redbud is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
