
As you are planting them, you must note that the Eastern Redbud will be able to survive climate zones four to nine, making it an ideal plant to grow in Kentucky. Otherwise, it may develop root problems and even die. You’d like to grow it in slightly aerated soil. It will enjoy moist areas and partial shade in the afternoon. This beautiful tree grows up to 30 feet tall and can reach a maximum of 30 feet in width. These cheerful flowers later turn to seedpods that last for the remainder of the growing season. The flowers are attracting honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds who will be happily dancing around and increase the pollination and blooming that will happen in your garden as you have placed these. In the fall, the leaves naturally turn bright yellow before falling off.

A whole bunch of rose and pink flowers will emerge in clusters in the early spring, showing a pretty dramatic display.Įastern redbud has beautiful heart-shaped leaves that will appear bluish and green in summer. Eastern RedbudĪdmired for its beautiful purple flowers, this North American deciduous tree grows a beautiful rounded crown with horizontal branches. That’s why you’ll be looking to grow flowering trees that enjoy mild climates in zones six to nine. In Kentucky, summers are often hot and very humid, with mildly cool winters, occasionally having episodes of cold Arctic air.Īverage summer temperatures are in the zone of 84 degrees Fahrenheit to 94 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter lows of 38 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit. List of Purple Flowering Trees in Kentucky List of Purple Flowering Trees in Kentucky.John Lawson wrote of redbud flowers being used in salads in his History of North Carolina, published in 1708. In Mexico, the flowers of redbud are fried and eaten. The blooms of the tree, originally white, were said to have turned pink with shame or blood. Redbud has been called the Judas tree because Judas Iscariot, after betraying Christ, was said to have hanged himself on Cercis siliquastrum, a close relative of eastern redbud that grows in Europe and western Asia. occidentalis, the western redbud, to make bows. Native Americans used the wood of a similar species, Cercis. Folk healers used the bark of eastern redbud to treat diarrhea and leukemia. On older trees, the orangish inner bark can often be seen. The bark of eastern redbud is brownish black and scaly. The flowers bloom in early spring before leafout.

‘Tennessee Pink' - Rounded form, with clear pink flowers.Įastern redbud starts flowering when it is 4 to 6 years old.‘Rubye Atkinson' - Smaller flowers than the species, but a clear pink.Introduced by Theodore Klein from Kentucky. New leaves are splotched with white markings. ‘Silver Cloud' - Is a variegated leaf form of redbud.

Heart-shaped leaves are a brilliant scarlet-purple, then mature to maroon. Has reddish branches that are horizontally tiered, and pink flowers before leafout in spring. ‘Forest Pansy' - Rounded form, 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide.
