Cercis canadensis Ruby Falls - Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' is a recent variety of Eastern Redbud, still not very common in our gardens. This small bush is one of the most beautiful in its genus and its small size allows it to be adopted even when space is limited, either in the ground or on a sunny terrace. It is a dwarf and very weeping form of the famous cultivar 'Forest Pansy'. In spring, its flowering adorns the trunk and bare branches with pinkish-purple pea-like flowers, just before the emergence of translucent red young shoots that unfold into purple and glossy leather-like leaves. This wonderful deciduous shrub is also very accommodating, as long as the soil it is planted in is not too dry.

'Ruby Falls' belongs to the Fabaceae family. The type species is native to eastern and central United States. Its growth is rather slow and its size after 10 years will not exceed 2 m (6.6 ft) in height and 1 m (3.3 ft) in width. It is a small tree with a very weeping habit, with branches that droop towards the ground. The flowers appear before the leaves, in March-April, directly on the branches and even on the trunk. Flowers will even bloom on branches that are only 1 year old. They are pea-like flowers, lavender-pink in colour. The fruits, in the form of flattened pods, are rarely present on this variety. Foliage emerges red and translucent, then intensively turns into a shiny purple colour, turning to dark green in summer, with shaded leaves being more distinctly green. The leaves are heart-shaped, 10 cm (3.9 in) long, quite thick and glabrous. The young branches are also purple, while the older branches have a fissured grey-black bark. Mature specimens often have a twisted trunk and a 'parasol' canopy, giving them a very Japanese silhouette.

It forms a unique and attractive shrub almost all year round. It takes up little space and has a strong personality, adding a unique touch to a small garden or in the centre of a large bed. It only requires fairly deep soil, regardless of its nature, even limestone. It is very hardy, and does not require any particular pruning: in short, it is a very accommodating plant that can thrive in any garden!

Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' can be planted as a standalone specimen for its year-round presence, especially in a space dominated by mineral elements, surrounded by large rock stones. An older specimen, carefully trained in an 'umbrella' shape on a sinuous trunk, could also make a good impression on a carpet of Mascarene grass (Zoysia tenuifolia), standing in the middle of a small Japanese scene. It is also easy to imagine it standing out against the background of a wall or evergreen foliage, accompanied by Elderberry 'Plumosa aurea' and Ceanothus 'Concha' for colour and shape contrast, with a few Darley Heath and hellebores for winter! You could even consider planting it with a dwarf winged Euonymus and a beautiful 'Grace' Smokebush for perfectly colourful scenes.