Don Egolf Redbud

At first glance the Don Egolf Redbud may look much like any other redbud, but it isn’t. Redbuds are one of our most well-known, and much-loved, trees, but this one is the Chinese species, and has subtle and desirable features that make it a great choice for your garden. It flowers some weeks before the native plant, so it’s great for those of us who can’t wait for spring to arrive. It is more compact too, being just 10 feet tall and wide in 15 years, and likely maturing no more than 15 feet. That makes it ideal for smaller gardens, where you long for a beautiful redbud, but don’t have the room for the 25-foot tree most will grow into. It has the same gorgeous display of purple-pink blooms on the bare spring branches, and even better foliage, with elegant heart-shaped leaves that are strikingly glossy. The branches have a more elegant, somewhat pendulous way of growing, perhaps suggestive of a Chinese brush painting, and unlike almost all other redbuds, it naturally develops a single main trunk. All in all it’s a great addition to your garden, and a branch of peace from across the Pacific.

• Compact, rounded, single-trunk tree just 10 feet tall and wide in 15 years
• Gorgeous display of purple-pink flowers on the bare branches
• Flowers a few weeks before our native Redbud
• Very glossy, heart-shaped leaves make a lovely summer showing
• Easy to grow and trouble-free, needing very little attention

Your Don Egolf Redbud will enjoy a spot in full sun, although in very hot areas some afternoon shade will be beneficial. Avoid too much, though, or flowering will be reduced. It will grow happily in just about any soil, just as long as it is well-drained, and doesn’t care about acidity or alkalinity, or even if your soil is clay or sand. It will grow best, though, in reasonably rich soil that isn’t too dry, so add some compost when planting, and keep your young tree watered. It is hardy from zone 6, and enjoys warmth and humidity. Deer ignore it, and it doesn’t have any important pests or diseases, and needs no pruning to keep its compact shape. A great choice for busy gardeners who want the pleasure of unique beauty, but don’t have the time for ‘fussy’ plants.