Cercis canadensis 'HEARTS OF GOLD'® Eastern redbud, love tree
size/type
taller shrub,taller shrub
usual height
2-4m
usual width
2-4m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
April-May
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Eastern redbud (love tree) is a lovely, deciduous, small tree or a large shrub where the word “love” is the key feature. Why? Because its leaves are in a perfect shape of a heart that we are used to draw as an icon. Moreover, a href="http://www.havlis.cz/karta_en.php?kytkaid=92">Forest Pansy variety has burgundy red to deep burgundy brown foliage. However, Hearts of Gold® is a fantastic novelty that was found by Jon R.Roethling in private garden in the USA in 2002 and has completely opposite colouring. It is now patented both in the USA under PP17,740 and under PBR No.20061429 in Europe.
Description of the plant:
Hearts of Gold® has gorgeous, heart-shaped leaves of vivid golden-yellow to yellow-green colour. They are large: 10 cm or more across. When they emerge their colour is honey orange and mature leaves closer to the trunk change to pale, mid green while the tips of the branches still bear yellowish leaves all summer long. This effect makes the plant look fresh during the whole season. Hearts of Gold® has small, pea-like, lavender pink flowers on one-year-old whips in early spring. The plant grows in an open V-shape where only bottom branches are arching or slightly drooping at the ends. Eastern redbud is commonly pruned when cultivated for the foliage. Hard pruning of minimum 5-year-old plants will result in long, new shoots with very large leaves (but no flowers). Pruning should be done in early spring after the frosts and do not cut more that two thirds of last year’s growth. Extra fertilizing is advisable in this case. If grown on stems you can keep the crown compact by trimming it in the spring, either before flowering or immediately after.
Do not cut into old wood – badly treated cuts may be infected and the plant may die. Eastern redbud is soil tolerant but does best in medium fertile, moist but well-drained soil. It resents transplanting and wet soil. Grow it in full sun or very light shade, shelter young plants from drying winds, if possible. Fully hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5), currently being tested in zone 4.
Last update 09-02-2010.
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