Redbud
Cercis canadensis
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 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 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 water6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wideDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Rating
- Right spot only (FRTRL: Conditionally Recommended)
- Botanical name
- Cercis canadensis
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Ruby Falls'
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide
- Mature form
- Spreading
- Spacing / clearance
- ~6 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 Redbud good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Redbud is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is 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 Redbud get?
- It matures to about 6–8 ft tall and 4–6 ft wide.
- How much room does Redbud need?
- Give Redbud about 6 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Redbud grow into?
- 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 Redbud hardy on the Front Range?
- 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 Redbud need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Redbud grow?
- Redbud is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Redbud live?
- Redbud has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Redbud native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Redbud deer-resistant?
- Redbud is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
