Other Names:  Giant Leaf Redbud

Description:

A spectacular spring bloomer, with very showy pink flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring; large glossy green heart-shaped leaves turn gold in fall; an excellent ornamental tree for specimen use in the home landscape

Ornamental Features

Giant Redbud has rose pea-like flowers along the branches from early to mid spring, which emerge from distinctive fuchsia flower buds before the leaves. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The large glossy heart-shaped leaves turn gold in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Giant Redbud is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree 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 tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Giant Redbud is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Giant Redbud will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet 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 tree 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 species is native to parts of North America.