Hearts A'fire Redbud

Sometimes something completely new comes along, and sets a gardener’s heart trembling. That is exactly what the Hearts A’fire™ Redbud did to us when we first saw it, and it will do the same to you. Get ready for a stunning new look when the spring leaves emerge in amazing shades of bright-red, tangerine-orange, burgundy and gold. These colors have never been seen before in redbud trees, and make for a remarkable display. Plus, unlike other trees with colored spring foliage, these colors last for weeks, before gradually becoming green for the summer. In fall, there is a more gentle transition, with red shades gradually displacing the green as colder temperatures arrive. As you would expect, those brilliant spring leaves are preceded by the classic purple-pink flowers on the bare stems that make redbud such a great garden tree. It really is one of the most dramatic and striking spring-blooming trees, visible for miles around. It’s native too, and a great replacement for alien trees that can be invasive in some areas. It’s a steady grower, becoming a small tree about 15 feet tall and wide, and so perfect for a small garden, bringing fabulous colors and blooms for weeks and weeks. Use it out on a lawn, at the back of a large shrub bed, or on the sunny side of larger deciduous trees. A new beauty you will instantly fall in love with – no kidding.

• Totally new look, with leaf colors never seen before in redbuds
• Season begins with bold purple-pink blooms on bare branches
• New leaves are orange, bright red, burgundy and gold
• Leaf colors last for weeks and weeks, gradually becoming green for summer
• A superb small tree for every garden, that is also easy to grow in most areas

The Hearts A’fire™ Redbud is best planted in full sun, for good blooming and the best leaf coloring. It will grow in zone 5, and also in hot places right into zone 9, and in the intense summers of mid-western states too. It will grow in just about any soil that is well-drained, from sands to clays and in both alkaline and acidic soils too. Once established it has good drought tolerance, but water your young tree regularly, and keep an area over the roots clear of grass for at least 5 years – cover it with rich compost as mulch and to feed your tree. It has no significant pests or diseases, and isn’t eaten by deer. Do some pruning while it is young to develop a nice open form, with 2 or 3 main trunks. Early shaping means no scars on the handsome black trunks.