Well, I can tell you that when well sited, well maintained, etc. fl. crabs tend to be long-lived landscape plants. Also, for you the redbud is probably fine, but just a little further north-up here-they can look good some years but have lots of winter damage other years. But again, you're more in the proper range for the redbud. I like them both but I'm kind of a crab nut, so long as the chosen cultivar has: Good disease resistance for your area, persistent fruit (for a nice, long fall/winter show), and the growth form I prefer in crabs, which is wider than tall. Can't remember the pertinent details on Prairie Fire, even given it's ubiquity. +om

I think with 'Forest Pansy' it is the total environment. I had always thought of this cultivar as tender, sensitive to heat, sun, wind, etc. I don't know if you are familiar with the Italian food chain Carraba's, but they have roof gardens. At one near me they installed three Forest Pansy redbuds in a roof garden with an environment that is intense. Constant super high wind, full sun all day long, typically low humidity. BUT, they also installed an effective irrigation system, excellent soil mix, a well drained, well sloped planter and give the plantings annual slow release fertilization. The plants have adequately survived yet have not thrived, and after four years one has died (third year), but the other two are hanging on. Admittedly, they do not bloom well in spring. The point is, you can probably grow them anywhere if you are willing to accept less than ideal growth response and are willing to go the extra mile. After watching these tortured plants I have a different take on Forest Pansy. hortster

I am going to need to have a tree service come and remove another tree and grind down that stump, plus several other stumps from trees that were already removed anyway, so I figured I would just have them do those oaks at the same time. I don't really feel the need to keep those small oaks because we have numerous other larger oaks that are in better spots, as well as being more majestic and beautiful looking. I would prefer some smaller trees that would give some sort of show, whether it's a spring or summer bloom or some fall color I don't really mind. I have lots of oaks but no blooming trees, and my only fall color tree is an unhealthy and badly pruned liquid amber that is going to be removed. I'm not sure there is a jacaranda in the background. The trees to the left of my oaks are persimmons, we enjoy the fall/winter display of fruit a lot. I thought about planting some persimmons of my own, or some other fruiting tree, but since we get so many birds hanging out in those trees I don't think I will. If I have a fruit tree I like to keep the birds out so that I can enjoy the fruit, and I kind of want these trees to be for the birds to enjoy. So some small, blooming, bird-friendly trees are what I was thinking, which is why I was leaning towards Redbuds.

I live in the north shore of Massachusetts. I installed a Cercis Canadensis - Rising Sun Redbud last October - a 5 gallon container tree in a full sun area of my front yard - where there is decent drainage. Made it through the winter with no problems, and the tight lavender buds popped in April . The bark and branching is a light grey and it all appears to be healthy - all branches are still pliable. The tiny lime colored leaves that appeared after budding have now morphed into larger, darker leaves. Watering has been a consistent once / wk process, but we did have some pretty intense rainfall about a month ago. I began noticing slight drooping and wilting of the leaves right before the heavy rains we received. Since then, it has been dry and warm, and the leaves have gotten more wilted and curled. At the recommendation of one of our nursery managers, I tried soaking the root area. There has been no improvement, and the smaller leaves are now drying up. No spotting on the leaves or signs of leaf decay, and no insect issues.. If it weren't for the drooping and wilting of leaves, they'd look completely healthy. In other words, the color and structure of the leaves are fine. The Rising Sun Redbud is a relatively new cultivar, so not much to go on re. diseases, insect issues and tree care solutions... My first inclination was that the tree might be suffering from root rot or a root fungus - based on the wilting and curling of leaves. I checked the soil around the root ball, which is cool and moist, but not wet, and there is none of the distinct smell you commonly get with root rot... When soaking the root area, the water pooled then drained fairly quickly. If anyone has any information on the Rising Sun, this particular issue, and a possible solution please pass along.. Many thanks!