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10+ Dwarf Redbud Tree Varieties

Redbud trees are very beautiful plants, especially during flowering. If you choose compact-sized varieties, you can keep this beauty even in a small garden. In this article, you will find the most popular dwarf varieties of redbud trees.

Ace of Hearts Redbud Tree

small redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Ace of Hearts’

Ace of Hearts Redbud is one of the best dwarf varieties. This tree grows to a height of 12 feet while it is 15 feet wide.

In addition to its compact size, this variety will please you with abundant early spring blooms before the leaves even appear. The color of the flowers is pink-purple, which looks delightful.

A second aesthetic advantage is the shape of the leaves. It looks like a heart and is bright green in color. The number of leaves is very large, which on a small tree looks amazing.

Ace of Hearts Redbud can be grown in zones 5-9, which means you can grow it in almost all of the United States. It tolerates both full sun and semi-shade equally well.

Ruby Falls Redbud

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’

Ruby Falls Redbud is primarily appreciated because of its beautiful burgundy or almost purple leaves. They are leaf-shaped and take on their brightest color if the tree is growing in full sun.

A second advantage is the weeping branches that fall down creating an amazing cascade. With a height of only 10 feet, this tree is a dwarf weeping redbud. In fact, there are very few such varieties.

In the spring you can get extra enjoyment from the amazing lavender-colored flowers.

Ruby Falls Redbud is recommended for growing in zones 5-9. It grows well in full or partial sun and can tolerate most soil types.

Rising Sun Redbud

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis Canadensis ‘JN2’

Rising Sun is a wonderful variety with contrasting leaves. The young leaves of this tree are yellow-orange, while the mature leaves are bright green. Such a combination gives a unique effect.

The second ornamental feature is the bright pink flowers that appear in front of the leaves.

It is really a dwarf variety as it is about 10 feet tall and 7 feet wide on average. The growth habit of the Rising Sun is a classic single trunk tree.

It has a good frost resistance and is able to grow in zone 5. It can also tolerate heat up to zone 9.

Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud Tree

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Covey’

Lavender Twist is one of the best dwarf weeping redbud varieties. It grows only 5 feet tall (sometimes 6 feet). The width of this variety can reach 8 feet.

The branches of this tree are strained downward, which creates a wonderful falling effect. But it looks most interesting in early spring when it is in bloom. Pink flowers with a slight lavender hue cover the weeping branches, making the tree a delight to look at.

The leaves are smaller than other varieties but heart-shaped. A large number of beautiful leaves makes the tree look great all season long.

You can grow it from 5 to 9 zones. Lavender Twist is best planted in full sun and well-drained soil.

Avondale Redbud Tree

small redbud tree

Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’

Avondale is a dwarf redbud with an upright growth habit. Its height at maturity rarely exceeds 12 feet and is the same width. Most branches grow upward and only some side branches slant slightly to the sides.

This tree looks most interesting in spring as it is decorated with beautiful pink flowers. The flower size is a bit larger than most cultivars so it looks more showy when in bloom.

The leaves are also decorative as they are heart-shaped and bright green in color.

This variety needs watering for the first 2 years after planting. For abundant flowering, plant it in full sun and fertilize once a year in early spring with a multi-purpose fertilizer.

Golden Falls Redbud Tree

small redbud tree

Cercis canadensis NC2015-12

Golden Fall is another dwarf weeping redbud. It reaches 10 feet in height while it is usually no more than 3 feet wide. The branches bend down when young and create a marvelous waterfall of foliage.

The leaves are another advantage of this variety because they have a lemon yellow color. They are also rounded in shape and all this adds up to a stunning result.

Like all the trees of this species, Golden Fall blooms with crimson-pink flowers in early spring. The leafless blooming tree looks very decorative.

This variety can be grown in zones 5-9. It can tolerate both direct sun all day and partial shade, but a few hours of direct sun per day is required.

Cascading Hearts Redbud Tree

small redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Cascading Hearts’

Cascading Hearts Redbud Tree has a weeping growth habit and small size. It can reach about 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Over time, this variety creates a wide mound of falling branches.

The most interesting view of this tree is in the spring when it blooms, at which time the leafless branches are dotted with small pink flowers, which looks unique.

The second period of beauty comes when the leaves appear. Thanks to the wide crown you get a huge waterfall of bright green leaves.

This tree is not particularly demanding to the type of soil, the main thing is that no water should stagnate around the roots. It tolerates planting in the full sun well. It can grow in zones 5-9.

Pink Heartbreaker Redbud Tree

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Heartbreaker’

Pink Heartbreaker Redbud, like some of the other varieties on this list, has a weeping crown shape, yet it remains a compact tree suitable for small gardens.

It will be about 9 feet tall and wide after 10 years. The result is a wonderful mound of dangling branches that are decked out with amazing flowers in the spring.

The color of the flowers is pink with a slight hint of purple. This variety blooms very abundantly.

After flowering, wonderful dark green leaves appear on the branches. At this time the tree turns into a large bright cascade of heart-shaped leaves.

This variety is well suited for planting in full sun in zones 5-10. From this, it follows that it has excellent heat tolerance. But it does require watering especially in the first few years after planting.

Whitewater Redbud Tree

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Whitewater’

Whitewater is a unique redbud because in addition to its dwarf size and weeping growth habit it also has variegated leaves! Such a combination is quite rare among similar trees.

It reaches a height of 8 feet and a width of 6 feet. At maturity, it resembles a broad vertical pole to which many long branches are attached pointing downwards.

For most of the season, the branches are covered with amazing green-white leaves. The green color is very deep and dark while the white is light and reminiscent of fresh snow.

Also in spring, pink flowers appear on the bare branches. In combination with the weeping form, the flowering period will be unforgettable.

Don EGolf Redbud Tree

small redbud tree

Cercis chinensis ‘Don Egolf’

Don Egolf Redbud is an upright growing dwarf tree that reaches 12 feet in height and width at maturity. The crown is shaped like a regular tree with a relatively wide canopy.

A distinctive feature of this variety is the reddish-pink color of the flowers. In spring, the tree seems to burn with very bright lights. In fact, the flowering period is delightful.

The leaves of this tree are no less interesting. Their shape is oval and heart-shaped. The young leaves are lime-colored while the mature leaves are dark green.

Don Egolf Redbud is only recommended from zone 6. In other words, it does not have the best frost resistance. But for those living in zones 6-9, this variety is available without much of a problem.

Vanilla Twist Redbud Tree

dwarf redbud tree

Cercis canadensis ‘Vanilla Twist’

Vanilla Twist is one of the most unusual dwarf weeping redbuds. Its peculiarity is the creamy white flowers. At the same time, most Cercis canadensis have pink flowers.

As for size, this tree is 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. The branches have a weeping effect and form a wonderful cascade. The tree looks most elegant during flowering.

The leaves are no less interesting, being bright green when young and dark green when mature. When the tree is fully clothed in leaves it resembles some kind of chimeric figure and it looks great in the garden.

It requires at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day and can grow in full sun. As for soil, it grows well in most soils except poorly-drained ones.

Richard Chiarenza

Sunday 30th of July 2023

Looking to purchase two Cercis Chinesis Avondale Red Bud trees or bare root