skip to main content

Ozarks Gardening

Forest Pansy Redbud

14 years ago

Helen asked about Forest Pansy in another post so I wanted to post a photo of mine. It's still blooming and the leaves are just starting to open up - really pretty right now. But late in the summer, the leaves won't be as purple and they get a bit burned and crispy in full sun. I don't think the species redbud does that. I don't know if FP would do better in partial shade or if it's just the Ozarks heat that bothers it.

I will say that it looks better as it matures. The first couple of summers, it looked like it wasn't going to make it at all. I'll try to remember to post another picture of the leaves in July or August.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

helenh
14 years ago
Would you plant it again and if you were chosing would you pay extra for it over the wild type? I don't need a tree but I have lots of reds buds in my hollow and they were pretty this spring. The tip about the shade is a helpful point.
gldno1
14 years ago
It sure is beautiful now!
Related Discussions
Forest Pansy Redbud question
Q
Comments (7)
Planting distance for long term development is the same as estimated crown spread - no need to make it more complicated. If they all grow 30' wide, plant them 30' apart. One grows 20' wide, another 15' - picture each as a circle that wide on a piece of paper and space accordingly. That's if you are planting a sort of border of shrubby trees. Tree-like specimens with elevated crowns register as accent points in the landscape and should be widely spaced as otherwise a cluttered effect may result. When all the trees are the same kind they can be grouped closely together to form a grove or clump. 'Forest Pansy' does fade in hot weather, so that you end up with only the newest leaves being purple later in the season. One on a Seattle (USDA 8) street had an average crown spread of more than 30' some years ago. Native pretty consistently to hot summer climates only, redbuds need a warm situation with good drainage; many plantings have problems with dieback if not well sited.
...See More
Forest pansy 'Redbud' leaves fell when planted?
Q
Comments (3)
mostly because.. nobody in their right mind.. plants trees with leaves that fall off.. in what was basically august .... you should have held it over.. until fall temps allowed it to not stress and make its hair fall out ... i mean leaves fall off ... if it re-leafs late in fall .. that might be worse than if it stays dormant thru what you call winter .... three BASIC rules for tree planting: PROPER PLANTING TIME PROPER PLANTING PROPER WATERING AND MULCH you violated #1 and no matter if you did the rest perfectly... the result shows ... the idiot who sold it to you.. should have suggested such ... but he wanted his buck ... oh well.. sounds like he has replacements .... ken ps: best proper time to plant.. on a deciduous tree.. is just after the leaves fall off.. go figure on that ...
...See More
Forest Pansy Redbud - Advise
Q
Comments (16)
Ken - sure they do. Just maybe not as early as they do in MI :-) Hairmetal - the zones were not created to provide that information. They only reflect a 30 year compilation of average minimum low temps, nothing more. Even the USDA admits the hardiness zones lack any supporting data that would expand their usage to cover such thing like duration of cold periods, amount of snow cover, soil moisture, amount of winter sun, etc. In their words "Such factors are not taken into account in the USDA PHZM......All PHZMs are just guides. The Sunset zonal maps may be much more applicable to the need to determine appropriate chill periods, as they DO take many other climate issues besides just winter lows into account and are far more detailed than the USDA zone system. But they should be takes as guides only as well. Eastern redbuds are listed as appropriately hardy for all 24 of the Sunset western climate zones, yet they certainly do not thrive in them all equally well. Most struggle up here in the PNW and tend to be short lived at best.
...See More
Storm damage to Forest Pansy redbud
Q
Comments (4)
Thanks, Carrie. I had sent a note to our Forestry agent, and here is his reply: "The best I can tell from the photos is that heartwood is exposed at the site of the split. In an effort to save the tree, the torn limb should be removed, cutting carefully to minimize the size of the wound. Pruning paint should be applied to completely cover all exposed wood. There is no guarantee this will work since heartwood is exposed. "Removal of the torn portion will leave the tree misshapen but it will be easier to manage compared to trying to tie the tree in such a manner as to attempt a natural rebinding of the wood at the site of the tear. Normally, with heartwood exposure it is only a matter of time and degree of exposure before the tree succumbs due to disease or insect invasion. "If you decide to remove the tree and replant another Forest Pansy Redbud, you may want to prune co-dominant branches to build a strong central leader."
...See More
christie_sw_mo
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks - I probably would plant it again, but I'm a big fan of purple leafed plants. Some people don't like them.
I think redbuds are supposed to be good to garden under since they're deep rooted.

Some flowering trees are bothered by Japanese Beetles which we didn't have to worry about several years ago. They don't bother redbuds or dogwoods. They do go after crab apples, serviceberry, mimosa and sandcherry and others.

If I could go back twenty years when our yard was bare, I would plant more smallish flowering trees and less trees that eventually get huge. We planted several maple trees, pin oaks, tulip poplar, sycamore and pecan. Some of our choices weren't very smart but it's hard to know when you're starting out what's going to be important in 20 years.

I think it would be pretty to mix some flowering dogwoods in around your redbuds in the hollow. They look good together.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Eastern Redbud

By Becky Harris

With romantic pink blooms and heart-shape leaves, this ornamental tree has been inspiring affection since the days of the founding fathers

TREES Great Design Plant: Cercis Occidentalis for Four Seasons

By Debbie Ballentine

Plant western redbud in drought-tolerant and habitat gardens for its outstanding beauty throughout the year

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 7 Great Trees for Summer Shade and Fall Color

By Tiffany Carboni

These landscape-pro faves straddle the seasons beautifully. Could one enhance your own yard?

ARBOR DAY 8 Reasons to Plant a Great Tree

By June Scott Design

Beauty is its own reward, but the benefits of planting the right tree in the right place go way beyond looks

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top Native Plants for Northern California Gardens

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife of Northern California

SPRING GARDENING Spring Fling: Visit a Garden in Full Glory

By Becky Harris

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is blooming three weeks ahead of schedule. Come take a peek with us

SPRING GARDENING 7 Spectacular and Practical Spring-Flowering Trees

Put on a beauteous show in the garden with a landscape tree awash in flowers — just do your homework first

GARDENING GUIDES Yes, You Can Grow Food in a Shady Yard

Your shady garden doesn’t have to be forever barren. Berries, herbs and other shade-loving plants can produce a delicious bounty

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Charm Up Your House With Windowboxes

By Becky Harris

Plant Some Living Color Right Outside Your Window

GARDENING GUIDES Northeast Gardener's May Checklist

By Paintbox Garden

Tiptoe through the lupines or dance under a flowering tree; warm weather brings abundant garden wonders to behold in the Northeast U.S.

Sponsored

More Discussions

verbena (glandularia) canadensis blooming already

6

DNA used to resolve tree theft case

1