I've noticed that if there is a late freeze after they have budded out the leaves will just stop growing and stay whatever size they were when the cold hit. It took a good month of warmer temperatures for mine to start adding size to the leaves again. This happened to my largest, most exposed tree while the more protected ones didn't skip a beat. It was a little strange and did give me pause, but it's since recovered and has nice larger leaves now.

"How was your winter?" Extremely mild. Several warm spells. And the tree leafed out perfectly in the spring- not a blemish on it. This happened almost overnight. My 'Forest Pansys' are the most finicky of all my Cercis and they are also unaffected.

RS Redbud is a stunning plant, isn't it? One of our neighbors has one in their side yard; and I always slow down to admire it. Oh....their full blazing sun, Alabama clay soil side yard...no irrigation but a nice layer of mulch. This cultivar has been bred to be resistant to both heat and scorch but bears watching. I remember the day we drove through the Tennessee nursery area on our way to experience a 100% solar eclipse, we passed by many rows of RS Redbud being grown in nursery after nursery after nursery.....all under the full sun. Purple leaved loropetalums also do beautifully in full sun. I've used them in sunny landscapes in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama when a bright touch of color is needed with great, long-term success. I have some in my own full sun front bed, no irrigation, and clay soil. So, Logan....please try to refrain from giving advice unless and until you've done some research. I've had over 35 solid years of experience with plants on top of a university education but still review recent research, plant introductions, and advances in science every single day. There are so many factors to consider, provenance being one of them.

if you have a warranty.. use it ... that bud.. way down low.. indicates to me.. everything above is struggling ... and everything not leafed out.. is probably dead ... but you could give it another month to make sure.. but even if it comes on late ... its heavily stressed ... though the plain old..plain old.. grows and seeds like the devil in my MI ... all my attempts with the foo foo ones.. failed.. some quicker than others ... but i thought that was mostly a cold z5 thing .... they should do better in warmer zones ... yes.. you could cut off all the dead stuff ... and what are you going to be left with ... one bizarre looking tree .. lol .. if it were out back on my 5 acres... it would be interesting to watch if for a few years.. and see what happens ... but crikey.. yours is right out there in front of your castle... impressing the neighbors ... lol .. so its probably time to go ... or at least move it out back ... i have had a lot of trouble with black mulch ... i bet that stuff gets hot in the heat of summer.. in AL ... if you have further problems with plants.. especially low growing plants.. that might be in the equation ... if you have a warranty... either get money back.. or try something else .. imo ... ken