I hear from long-time residents of Amador County, California, that our native redbud (Cercis occidentalis syn C. orbiculata ) is not found anywhere in that county except where planted. To me, this is a fascinating mystery, as it is commonly reported by reliable sources as occurring in the wild in that part of the state. Some have suggested it may be the soils, that redbud requires “ultramafic” (basic) soils, even serpentine, that are not common in Amador County. If you live in that part of the world, please let us know if you have seen this special plant in the wild and exactly where.
Also, if you live in southern, central, or northern California, or anywhere else in the world with a summer-dry climate, let us know your experience with this spectacular shrubby tree, wild or planted. Evidently it has environmental needs that many of us are not aware of.
For those who are not intimately familiar with California redbud, we supply the following description. Most California gardeners know it well.
In early spring western redbud bursts forth with clusters of vivid magenta to rosy purple flowers, followed by bronzy green, heart-shaped leaves that turn apple green in summer and light yellow before dropping in fall. In winter the bare branches, silvery gray and upright, are decorated with reddish brown seed pods that persist for months.
A good choice for small gardens with little space for large trees and excellent as an accent for larger landscapes, western redbud is native to canyons and slopes in the California coast ranges and Sierra foothills.
Usually planted as specimens, redbud is also effective in groves. Since each tree blooms for only two to three weeks, the more you plant the longer the show may be extended. Flowers may not appear for the first few years after planting but are well worth the wait.
Exceptionally slow-growing to 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide with multiple trunks or multiple low branches if trained as a tree, western redbud is shrubby and densely twiggy without skillful pruning. Pruning should be done in winter when the plant is dormant.
Western redbud thrives in full sun to light shade with good drainage. Warm summers are preferred, but not reflected heat, and flowering is most prolific following winter chill.
Early growth is faster with monthly to twice monthly summer water for the first three to five years. Mature trees need little or no water once established if winter rains have been sufficient. Hummingbirds, goldfinches, butterflies, and bees are attracted to the flowers.
We inherited 2 Cercis I believe are C. occidentalis with our house in coastal Southern California 4 years ago. They’re planted as understory trees beneath Agonis flexuosa, which provide significant shade. My impression is that they’re still relatively young trees but it may be that their growth has been somewhat stunted by their shady placement and limited irrigation – they’re rather spindly in appearance. The soil is clay, although it’s permeated with gravel and the trees sit on a slight slope so I think their drainage is fairly good. (I haven’t had the soil tested.) They haven’t produced either flowers or leaves yet this year.
Hi Kris,
Thanks for the info. It’s too early for redbud flowers in my northern California garden, don’t know about coastal southern parts of the state. My redbud planted itself on a slight slope in the shade of a huge big-leaf maple many years ago. It too is spindly and only about eight feet tall, but the flowers are gorgeous and I love the leaves. I don’t water it at all. The soil is clay but richly amended with decades of fallen leaves.
Nora
We live in Chesapeake, Va. on the coast near Norfolk. We bought our California Redbud for our anniversary about 10 years ago. I am in love with it’s beautiful flowers in the Spring that turn into wonderful waterfall like, tiny burgundy hearts, and then into beautiful larger leaves of green and burgundy. Beautiful to behold in all seasons. I fear we would lose it May of 2010 when a freak wind storm did a lot of damage in our yard. The tree was split right down the middle for about 15″ or so. We quickly went looking for “tree patch” to stop water from getting into the main trunk and rotting it. This year we have an abundance of seed pods and were wondering how we might plant them to poduce more of these special redbuds.
Jenny – Thanks for dropping by. I must say I was surprised to see you writing from Chesapeake, as I grew up in Newport News and loved the Eastern Redbud tree. Both are a bit difficult to start from seed, needing scarification. Here is one on-line reference from the San Francisco Chronicle website.
– Saxon Holt
Saxon,
Thank you for the online references. I will read these with interest and see if we can be successful in establishing one or two more of these wonderful California Redbuds.
I have lived in California my whole life and traveled much of it. Until I moved to Lake County in 2004, I do not recall ever seeing a redbud as a bush or as a tree.
They are every where here, every yard and open space in town or county seems to have them.
Go out of county and I spot very few.
Kenneth, thanks for that information. That’s interesting. Redbud may be less common in the wild than is usually assumed. It’s said to be found in foothills throughout central and northern California and at higher elevations in southern parts of the state, but most redbuds I see have been planted.
Nora
Many here are also planted, as most are around areas occupied by dwellings. We have some in our yard and next door and next door and on and on:)
Like willows and lilacs, just stick a cutting in the ground, add water, and a redbud grows.
Like them so all is good.
Ken
I spotted this tree in the Claremont Canyon in Berkeley during a recent walk. It looks exactly like the picture. What caught my attention was the stunning contrast of red and an almost birch-like bark. Upon getting closer to it, I thought I knew what the tree was, but then I was stumped until I happened upon this page doing landscaping research. The Claremont Canyon has relatively rich soil and receives quite a bit of rain, fog and morning mist especially in the Summer time.
Glad the photo was helpful. It is wonderful the way the gray bark on older trees looks almost white. I lived for years in Elmwood and know Claremont Cyn but don’t remember a redbud. Will try to notice . – Saxon Holt
I have a question. Can the redbud be planted in a large container?
Hi Helen,
I have not seen redbud grown in a container, but I don’t see why it could not be done. Redbud grows slowly, so for quite a while it likely would thrive if grown in a commercial “cactus mix” for good drainage. Would love to hear back about your experience with this if you try it.
Nora
I have a small Redbud growing in an area next to the driveway that needs to be moved.
I was thinking about putting it in a container and then planting it next early spring.
So time to get out the shovel.
Ken
On a spring hike up Matilija Canyon, near Ojai, CA., I spotted a Redbud in full bloom. It stopped me in my tracks as I had never seen anything like it before in my years of hiking the local canyons. It was at about 1500 feet in elevation in a fairly narrow canyon with dense brush on a south facing slope with some shade due to the canyon. It was about 50 feet above a small perennial stream.
Always a thrill to come upon a redbud in full bloom, especially when unexpected! Thanks for writing.
Nora
They are very common in the foothills of Nevada County, and mine (admittedly adjacent to a lawn) has grown 6-10 feet in just a few years. People commonly plant Eastern Redbud not knowing the difference, and I find seedlings of both species in irrigated (mostly C. canadensis) and non-irrigated areas (hopefully all C. occidentalis).
Is our tree the victim of the drought? Or disease? Or just old age?
We inherited a beautiful western redbud tree when we move to the Santa Monica Mountains a few years ago. It was originally planted in a wood container (so yes, Helen, it’s possible) :) but has since likely established a nice root system far beyond the boundaries of the container (It’s well over 20 feet tall, with its widest trunk about 6-7 inches in diameter). This spring is the first year it didn’t have a spectacular bloom, and that was followed by greenery on only three of the six trunks. Then the leaves on two of those turned prematurely brown (seemingly overnight), leaving only one healthy looking trunk of green leaves remaining. I have been searching the internet for any suggestions or solutions, but simply don’t know what to do. I didn’t see the streaking typical of verticillium wilt or any obvious cankers…? Any ideas to help us save our tree would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
Hi JoAnn,
I can’t say for sure what’s ailing your redbud or what to do about it. They do seem to start declining after twenty-five or thirty years, and severe drought is impacting all our trees this year. Was your tree watered in summer in previous years? Mine, which is almost never watered, didn’t bloom well at all this spring and I lost one branch to die-back. I’m guessing drought is the cause of your tree’s problem and mine as well.
Nora
Hi Nora,
Your experience sounds like a similar but less extreme one… the drought has been really hard on everything. Sadly, in addition to our redbud, we have lost two large oaks each year for the past two years (either due to age and/or drought conditions). Our tree is hardly watered at all, however is located about 20 feet from a seasonal stream (which remained dry all year for the first time since we’ve been here). I watered it twice this summer, deeply, near the drip line…. For those limbs that didn’t flower and have dried/brown leaves (or none), would you recommend removing the branches or entire trunks? How do I determine if I should cut them back, and where? Any suggestions would be great. I’d like to save as much as I can without endangering that one last trunk… Thank you very much. JoAnn (PS Thank you for your quick reply… I couldn’t remember the website where I posted my questions… oh my gosh, it took me a while to retrace my steps!)
Hi JoAnn,
I think I would wait to prune or remove limbs until at least next spring. If this coming fall/winter is also dry, water deeply near the drip line as you did this year but this time in fall and winter, which is when our natives are “expecting” water. Let us know what happens.
Nora
PS: Forgot to add: If the branches or trunks show no sign of life after the rest of the tree leafs out in spring, cut back cleanly and completely in late July or early August, when the tree is mostly dormant. Also, consult your local native plant nursery or native plant society for advice.
Nora,
Thank you for your advice – it’s comforting to have a plan! :)
JoAnn
Love the Redbuds in Lake County Ca they are beautiful and my Auntie used to say the best time to fish were when the Redbud trees were blooming!
Thanks for your comment Denise! Interesting about the fish. . .
Nora