Decidedly, the most favorable attribute of the Eastern redbud is its bloom period. Strings of bursting purple blossoms covering bare trunks and branches is a beautiful sight â albeit brief. The foliage that follows is nice, but nondescript and well, a little boring. So, although the native redbud can make for a great addition to our home gardens, it isnât as versatile as some of its newer, more unique cousins.
What many newer redbud cultivars offer is diversity in foliage and varying leaf color. There are several cultivars of Cercis canadensis that I would recommend for home gardens for a variety of reasons, including dramatic foliage. Topping the list is âThe Rising Sun,â âRuby Fallsâ and âHearts of Gold.â