How to Plant, Grow, and Care for ‘Forest Pansy’ Redbud Trees
In this piece, Master Naturalist Sarah Jay discusses how to grow and care for ‘Forest Pansy’ Redbuds. Read on to learn how to include these stunning North American cultivars in your landscape.
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Redbud trees are some of the most interesting landscape specimens for a garden. As a native plant gardener I’m personally stoked to plant one in my yard! And I might just choose a ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud when the time comes.
This cultivar is similar to the straight species with some notable differences. These trees are medium-sized, so you’ll need a bit of space to grow your own. But even a smaller yard will benefit from the presence of this stunning tree.
If you’re wondering how to care for your own ‘Forest Pansy‘ redbud, we’ve got you covered! We’ll walk you through the process of planting and caring for one, and we’ll discuss what makes this cultivar different from the beloved native from which it originated.
‘Forest Pansy’ Redbud Overview
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Plant Type
Deciduous understory tree
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Cercis
Species
canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’
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Native Area
Garden origin in Tennessee
Exposure
Full sun to partial shade
Height
20-30 feet
Watering Requirements
Moderate
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Pests & Diseases
Japanese beetles, hoppers, caterpillars, borers, scale, canker, Verticillium wilt, dieback, leaf spots, mildew, blights
Maintenance
Low
Soil Type
Any
Hardiness Zone
5-9
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What Is It?
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ is a gorgeous spring bloomer that comes from the eastern North America native redbud tree. Both subsist in many different soils and can be planted outside their native range. Even better if they are planted within it, but they will survive in USDA zones 5-9.
Like other redbuds, these are understory trees that thrive in forested areas. They can tolerate full sun in an open area, while the straight species is most commonly found in grasslands. The margins of forests and prairies are also great planting spaces for these trees.
Characteristics
This native is a perennial, deciduous tree with heart-shaped leaves and bright purple flowers—similar to the straight species. The beautiful blooms on this 15-to-30-foot tree develop in early spring and are a pollinator magnet, both as a host and a source of food. The southern blueberry bee (Habropoda laboriosa) is reliant on redbuds.
As members of the Legume family, redbuds have nitrogen-fixing capabilities valued in food forestry. This capacity allows them to help other plants establish themselves, facilitating nutrient transfer between microbes in the soil.
The genus Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which refers to the resemblance of each seed pod to a weaver’s shuttle. These pods form in spring after the pea-like purplish-pink flowers bloom and are pollinated in spring. As the summer wears on, the seeds within the pods mature, and in fall, they dry.
What distinguishes this tree from the eastern redbud is its ornamental appeal. Unlike its parent’s leaves, ‘Forest Pansy’ develops deep red leaves in spring. These fade to green by early summer and then turn fiery red and gold in autumn. The trunk of the tree is also quite sturdy. Both have a rounded form, which along with its foliage is appealing to those in need of a striking specimen.
Native Area
‘Forest Pansy’ was a chance discovery at the McMinnville, Tennessee Forest Nursery. The nursery had established a name for itself as a source for redbuds. Either the owner of the nursery or the foreman found the tree growing among other young saplings in 1947.
Redbuds thrive in the southeastern regions of North America from the Atlantic coast to Central Texas, where the terrain is typically forest or grassland. Unlike other varieties, eastern redbuds require moderate amounts of water, as their native range typically receives more rainfall.
Planting
Fall is the best time to plant a redbud, as this gives the tree plenty of time to develop roots before the following spring flowering. Spring is a close second but requires more care. Find a partial sun spot with at least 15 feet on all sides before you start the planting process. This ensures the best future for your Forest Pansy.
Transplanting
To transplant young trees or saplings, dig a hole twice the width of the rootball and just as deep. At this point, you can add compost to the native soil to boost the nutrient content. Remove the tree from its nursery pot, and loosen or cut the roots, which may have become slightly bound. Then place the tree in the hole and backfill with the soil amended with compost.
Water the tree, and fill in any depressions that form after water is applied. Top it all off with a nice three to four-inch donut of organic mulch, keeping the mulch away from the trunk of the tree by a few inches. Straw, wood chips, wood bark, or pecan hulls are great options here.
Growing From Seed
The process of growing redbuds from seed is fairly simple, but requires some patience as it can take a few years before a tree produces blooms. Still, for North American native plant gardeners, it’s a great way to learn some of the environmental needs of understory trees.
You can purchase seeds from a retailer, but you may have an easier time locating someone with a redbud. In fall, seed pods have dried and viable seeds should have developed. Extract the seeds from the pods, and scarify them with sandpaper or a sharp knife to break down their hard seed coat.
Give the seeds a five-to-eight-week period of cold, moist stratification in the refrigerator at 35 to 41°F (2-4°C). Put them in a plastic container with moist peat or coco coir, placing them on the soil surface and sprinkling a little more media on top to cover them. Ensure the lid is perforated.
After this cold period, soak the seeds in hot water for 24 hours and then plant them in standard potting soil. This technique is known as double stratification. With proper treatment, they should sprout within two weeks.
How to Grow
If you’ve managed to sprout your own ‘Forest Pansy,’ you’re well on your way to a healthy care regimen and an early spring flower fest. If you’re still weighing your options for growing one, here are some things to consider.
Light
Eastern redbuds and ‘Forest Pansy’ redbuds do best with partial shade, with a few hours of direct sunlight per day. While they can certainly grow in full shade, they won’t put on the stunning display you want. In full sun, the leaves may take on some damage.
Water
While the parent species can handle drought, ‘Forest Pansy’ needs a moderate amount of water. Some of this will be mitigated through amending the soil at planting. Young trees should be watered every few days in the few months after they are planted and then once every few weeks after establishment. When there is ample rainfall, you may not need to water at all.
Because this redbud is susceptible to fungal and bacterial agents, always water at the soil surface rather than from sprinklers or from above. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose set around the drip line of the tree is perfect.
Soil
Limestone clay loam is the preferred soil for this tree, but nearly any will suit it as long as it drains well. Adding a little compost at the planting site before you plant ‘Forest Pansy’ will retain soil moisture and boost fertility. In sandy soils, this addition is imperative. Avoid flooded sites, as these trees don’t appreciate wet feet.
Temperature and Humidity
Redbuds thrive in temperatures between 18 and 61°F (-8-16°C). They do best in mild, temperate climates. At least 160 days of frost free weather is necessary. Low humidity is preferred, as high relative humidity can prompt diseases this cultivar is susceptible to. Once established, heat is no problem.
You can shelter young trees from cold in their first couple of years by wrapping the trunks with burlap or some other frost-protective cover just ahead of freezing seasons. This is good practice for those on the lower end of their zone 5-9 hardiness range. In heat, water more often.
Fertilizing
Young trees may benefit from slow-release fertilizers at planting. Provide annual dressings of compost, which is usually enough to sustain the tree, especially in its native range. Too much fertility builds up sugars and attracts pests.
Maintenance
Mulch young trees, and prune to remove any dead, diseased, or pest infested areas. Too much pruning will prompt decline, and change the desired shape of the tree. Carry out your pruning for airflow in dormancy, and remove dead, diseased, or dying branches at any time. Use sanitized shears or loppers.
If you prune excessively, you’ll lose those intensely purple flowers that arrive in spring.
Propagation
You can grow new ‘Forest Pansy’ redbuds via seed (discussed above) or by softwood cuttings. We’ll discuss the process of propagation by cutting here. This is not the preferred method, but germinating seeds is a lengthy process, and trees won’t flower for several years.
Cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is not always successful, so it’s best to take several cuts to increase your chances. Support root development with a heat mat, and avoid using rooting hormone. These treatments don’t produce desirable results.
- Prepare 5-inch pots with sprouting media composed of one part moistened peat moss or coco coir, with equal parts vermiculite and perlite.
- Locate and cut several softwood pieces in spring with sterilized pruners, selecting six to eight inch lengths of new growth the size of a pencil (or slightly smaller).
- Remove all but the top two sets of leaves.
- Pop your cuttings into the pots at a depth of one to two inches, and spray the soil surface with water. Place these in a warm area, or on a heat mat set to 70°F (21°C).
- Keep the cuttings in the warm area with bright, indirect sunlight, misting the soil as the surface dries. Cuttings should root within a month or two.
Common Problems
While these are native cultivars, they do attract quite a few pests and diseases. Thankfully their ability to draw in beneficial insects helps to keep pest pressure down. But you should be aware of the diseases that are typical for this tree and how to prevent them.
Pests
The following pests love to munch on the leaves and stems of redbud trees, especially ‘Forest Pansy.’ When using pesticides – even organic ones – only spray light mists outside of peak insect activity, avoiding midday and night time. This keeps pollinators who rely on redbuds safe.
Japanese beetles
Japanese beetles feed on the leaves of the tree, and lay their eggs on the soil surface. Grubs then develop in the soil and start the cycle over again.
Birds are a great deterrent for beetles as they feast on them, and their grubs when they can access them. Treatments of beneficial nematodes eliminate overwintering larvae before the season begins.
Treehoppers and leafhoppers
Treehoppers and leafhoppers also feed on leaves, and are best handled by beneficial insects and birds. Follow up with insecticidal soap in infestations
Tent caterpillars
Tent caterpillars also feed on leaves, defoliating as they weave tent-like webs on the trees. These aren’t a nuisance, and birds love to dine on them. In large numbers, applications of Bt are effective. Most of the time you won’t have to do anything about these.
Borers
Borers drill into the upper bark and lay their eggs in the cambium layer of the trunk and branches, leaving tiny holes in the process. These eggs hatch and larvae feed on this inner layer, weakening the tree.
Keep your tree free of debris, and practice proper care to keep borers under control. Prune out heavily infested branches if you notice they are full of holes. Throw these branches away, keeping them out of your compost pile.
Scale insects
Scale insects are also attracted to redbuds, and feed on the twigs and branches of the tree. They look like little immobile bumps, but they actually move really slowly.
Most of the time their presence isn’t an issue, and local wildlife will take care of the problem for you. You can prune away infested branches</strong> and use insecticidal soap to get rid of them.
Diseases
‘Forest Pansy’ also has some diseases to look out for, some of which are serious. The best prevention for all of these is proper placement and care.
Canker
Canker presents as sunken or depressed areas on stems, trunks, and branches. The lesions develop into pustules, which ooze at the height of the infection. Leaving these alone will result in decline, and could kill the tree.
Prune away infected branches, disposing of them in the trash. Always <strong>sanitize pruners between uses, and prune your tree for airflow as a prevention measure. Try not to wound the tree with lawn tools.
Verticillium wilt
Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that can be deadly for redbuds. The fungus lives in the soil and causes wilting leaves, which eventually progress to wilting branches and tree death.
Keep your redbud free of fallen leaves and debris, and avoid planting in areas where the disease has been present in the past. Remove infected trees and dispose of them in the trash to prevent spread to other plants. There is no cure for this disease.
Dieback
Dieback occurs when trees begin to die from the leaf tips inward. There are various causes for this disease, including cultural factors, pests, and diseases. Attempt to prevent the spread by pruning away damaged branches. Ultimately, determine the cause before seeking treatment strategies.
Leaf spots and blights
Leaf spots and blights are caused by fungal agents. These leave small dark spots or lesions on the heart-shaped leaves of redbuds, which progress to dead or dying leaves. Remove these as they crop up and clean up fallen leaves to keep them under control.
Powdery and downy mildew
Powdery and downy mildew are common in areas with high humidity or in situations where ‘Forest Pansy’ is watered from above rather than at the root level. Crowding also prompts the development of mildew. Keep your tree free of mildew by pruning it away if it crops up, and ensuring your branches aren’t crowded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you plant ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud with?
You can include this redbud in a native plant garden with other larger trees or shorter perennial natives. It’s a stunning specimen for the garden focal point, too. Forest gardens benefit from its nitrogen-fixing capability.
Is ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud safe for pets?
Redbuds are not toxic to people or animals. So plant in your garden and let the pups and kitties roam!
How do you overwinter ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud?
In its native range, you shouldn’t need to provide protection for established redbuds outside of regular mulching. For small trees, wrapping with burlap or a tree wrap will assist with snap freezes, and exceptionally cold weather.
