Cercis canadensis - Flame Thower®

Redbud - Flame Thower®
Cercis canadensis 'NC2016-2' PP #31,260

🔥Fiery flaming foliage!🔥

Absolutely spectacular! A gorgeous, glowing, graduated blend of rich burgundy-red, gold, and green foliage sparkles from spring through fall on these incredible, compact native trees. Red-purple early spring blooms appear on bare branches; later fall foliage color varies from bright to pale gold; winter features their unique zig-zag branches. These wonderful trees are perfect showstoppers for smaller landscapes!

A stunning selection from our WNC native species by Dennis Werner at NC State University, they are sturdy little trees, and can be planted near Black Walnuts.

Plant them near your mailbox, front door, or patio where they can be fully enjoyed. Delightful specimens, they are ideal for: Butterfly Gardens, Children's Gardens, Cottage Gardens, Native Gardens, Pollinator Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, and more!

🎓Help students: A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each plant supports the NCSU Horticulture program.

🐦Help the Birds: According to the Audubon Society, planting these trees can attract and help: Cardinals, Chickadees, Jays, Finches, Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Blackbirds, New World Sparrows, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens, and more.

🦋Help the Butterflies and Moths: In NC, Redbuds are the host plants for at least 39 species of moths, including the showy Io Moth (Automeris io - pictured) and White Flannel Moth (Norape cretata - pictured). Redbuds are also butterfly host plants in NC for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) and the lovely Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus - pictured); and butterfly nectar plants for the elusive but wonderful Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus), Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), and Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis). 

🐝Help the Bees: bees are attracted to the nutritious nectar and pollen. Native leafcutter bees use the leaves for building their nests.

🏆Award winning! Winner of the prestigious Plant of the Year 2021 at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. 

🦌Deer resistant - deer tend to avoid these showstopping trees.

12-15’T x 15’W.

Zones 5-9, cold hardy down to -20F.

💚Plant Nerd: While wildlife rely on the flowers for survival, they are edible for humans, even when raw! Add a handful of young, fresh flowers to salads. Older flowers are excellent in jams, jellies, dried for granola, and used for herbal teas/tisanes. 

Try this recipe:  

• 2 cups fresh redbud blossoms
• 2 quarts water
  
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Add sweetener of choice (maple syrup, agave syrup, cane sugar, or honey) to your desired level of sweetness

Chop blooms, then add chopped blooms to a pot with 2 quarts cold water. Bring the mixture to a light (not heavy) boil. As soon as the bubbles break the surface of the water, cut the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and steep the tea for 15 minutes. Pour the steeped tea through a strainer into a pitcher. Add lemon juice and sweetener of choice, stir to blend, and enjoy! The used blooms can be composted.

Redbud trees are best planted in one location and left there, it's best to plan carefully and ensure sunny conditions prior to planting.