Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
|
|
Extension Communications |
4/29/04
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
For the week of April 26, 2004
Redbuds Color Iowa Landscapes and Roadsides
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
In Iowa, within a few weeks or even a matter of days, winter becomes spring. With the first warm rain, lawns magically turn green overnight, and soon the early spring bulbs are blooming. By late April, the first flowering shrubs and trees begin to show their splendor. This week's Reiman's Pick, Eastern redbud, goes unnoticed for 50 weeks of the year, but right now, in full bloom, it is the center of attention in landscapes and Iowa's woodlands.
If you are not familiar with the Eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, do not use its common name as a clue to its identification. The buds and flowers are rosy pink to purple - definitely not red. Its common name is even less descriptive for white-flowering cultivars such as 'Dwarf White' and 'Royal White.'
Redbud is native from the East Coast to northern Florida and through southern Iowa to Nebraska. Sources differ on its hardiness; some claim it will survive in zone 4 in northern Iowa, others say the northern limit is zone 5 - around Highway 30 in central Iowa. When planting a redbud tree in northern Iowa and Minnesota, it is important to select a plant grown from a northern seed source, such as 'Northern Strain,' introduced by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The flowers and fruit pods on redbuds are very characteristic of the Fabaceae, or pea family. Clusters of four to eight flowers emerge before the leaves in mid-spring. The flowers, attached directly to the trunk or braches, form on wood that is two years or older and even on large branches and trunks. This flowering trait makes redbud trees stunning in the spring because nearly all of their branches are lined with flowers so that their branches and unusual structure can easily be seen. The heart-shaped leaves appear just as the flowers are fading.
The redbud is a small tree with a mature height of 20 to 30 feet and a spread of 25 to 35 feet. As it matures, it develops crooked branches and an irregular shape giving each redbud tree its own unique characteristics. The tree grows quite rapidly when young but assumes a moderate growth rate after 10 years.
Redbuds grow best in full sun to partial shade in a moist, rich, well-drained soil yet adapt to many soil types except continuously wet sites. Newly planted redbud trees should be kept well watered until established. Redbuds stressed by too little moisture, constantly wet soils or mechanical damage are more susceptible to disease problems.
The size of a redbud tree makes it very versatile in the landscape because it can be grown as a specimen tree, in a grouping of several trees and even as a focal point near the entrance to a home.
Redbuds will have center stage in the spring landscape display for about two weeks. You can enjoy their beauty throughout Reiman Gardens and Iowa's woodlands. Also blooming at the Gardens are serviceberry, Judd viburnum and crabapples.
-30-
|
Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 356K. Caption: redbud |
 |