Other Names:  Eastern Redbud, Judas Tree, Love Tree

Description:

A spectacular variety with a small shrubby form: purple-rose flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring; foliage emerges almost white, then matures to chartreuse and green ; yellow fall color; a great addition to shrub borders

Ornamental Features

Mardi Gras Redbud has rose pea-like flowers with fuchsia overtones along the branches from early to mid spring before the leaves. It has attractive chartreuse-variegated light green foliage with hints of creamy white which emerges white in spring. The heart-shaped leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Mardi Gras Redbud is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Mardi Gras Redbud is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Mardi Gras Redbud will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.